The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, in partnership with the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, has launched a comprehensive mangrove conservation and boundary demarcation program around the Puttalam Lagoon. The initiative addresses severe ecological pressure on the lagoon's mangrove ecosystem caused by historical shrimp farm expansion, unauthorized coastal landfilling, and unsustainable timber harvesting. Mangrove wetlands around Puttalam serve as indispensable biological nurseries for mud crabs, penaeid prawns, and estuarine fish species that sustain the local fishing economy. Conservation teams have initiated physical boundary pillar installation along high-density mangrove stretches in Wanathavilluwa and Kandakuliya, establishing legally protected buffer zones where commercial construction and clearing are strictly prohibited. Alongside enforcement, the program engages local community cooperatives in replanting native mangrove species, establishing community-run nurseries, and developing eco-tourism kayaking trails that generate alternative sustainable income for lagoon fishing families. Environmental officers noted that early satellite monitoring indicates a positive stabilizing trend in lagoon mangrove canopy cover, highlighting the effectiveness of community-led stewardship in coastal resource management.