In 1992 The Small Fishers Federation was set up as a development network of small-scale fisher folk organizations in Sri Lanka. Small scale fisher folk are one of the most socially and economically vulnerable groups. They are engaged in fishing in shallow waters of the sea and also inland fishing areas using very primitive fishing gear. Their average income is US$ 12 per month and 84 percent of them are without living basic needs. (ACFOD Report) The Federation represents these fisher folk in the island. It’s an approved charity and a non-profit non-governmental organization, which is incorporated under regulations for the Monitoring of Receipts and Disbursement of Funds by NGOs and is registered as a company. As an umbrella organization the Federation is conducting advocacy, economical, social and educational programmes to strengthen and empower the small fisher community on self-reliance.

A 12 member Board of governors manages the federation activities. They are elected by the general membership for three years at its annual Federal meeting. The Chief executive of the Federation is a Chairman. Federation represents 33 percent of members from 250000 directly and indirectly active fishing populations in the country. The Federation network has 231 village based organizations.   At present the membership at National network of the Federation extends up to 231 village based organizations, in the coast and in inland fisher areas. Every member organization has its representatives at the Federation's general assembly with equal voting power.

The Federation was fully concerned of the above situation and considers women and youth as major production groups in the fishing community. Under these activities  Women socio economic resource centres and "Youth Development education and Vocational Training centres" have been set up in three provinces. The SERC is a resource and skills base centre for social and economic transformation of the fisher folk in each coastal district and Development Education and Vocational Training Centres (DEVTC) was set up as fisheries knowledge base for social transformation focusing youngsters as one for each province. By 2005 three vocational training centres were operating in Bandagiriya South, in Pambala North western and in Liyangolla Uva provinces in Sri Lanka. The idea to set up these centres is to provide new attitudes in sustainable development, provide modern knowledge for good governance and democracy and skills for modern jobs in a modern society.  At present  "Vocational training in information technology, Food processing and food technology, Eco-tourism, business development non residential and residential three months and 6 months courses are operating for male and female youth.

Under the fisheries social development programme, The Small Fishers Federation is trying to develop women and youth in the fishing community as main production forces in the sustainable fisheries development process. One of the most important factors in sustainability is “women and youth participation and gender equity in society and also in the production process. Key elements in this process are health physical life, social recognition, new attitudes, new knowledge, new skills and common decision-making. Federation has incorporated these key elements with its social development activities to harness women and youth as main production forces in sustainable development process in fisheries. One of the main requirements for the sustainable livelihood is credit for investment.   Civil unrest is developing due to lack of job opportunities. The Federation has identified credit as a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihood and set up a scheme to provide credit and loans for different jobs of the community. But this credit scheme is entirely different from the conventional business banking system. First of all people should become members of village based production organizations women, youth or fishermen  must start regular saving of an agreed amount on a monthly basis with the credit scheme. Then she / he must obtain training in skills development in how to manage credit and how to engage in business. After this training they can obtain credit or loans for their self-employment. For the credit amount they have to pay interest at market rates. Projects for all loans or credit activities the member organization is responsible to monitor how credit is used and repayment. The recommendation for the credit comes from the production organizations.

Currently, 860 production groups are operating with 231 village organizations as maximum of 20 members in each group with 9200 memberships since 2005.Credit fund has been developed since 1997 for the benefits of 9200 members. The loan capacity varies from business to business. From Rs.2500 to Rs.500000 worth of credit is provided at 21% interest per annum for a three to five year period individually.  It assures the security of the small-scale fishing community in their old age and at the time of sickness.  It also guarantees a better price for their products by introducing market, transport and storage facilities.

Over the last few years the focus of the development strategy of the Federation shifted from social development to more economic development. The Federation aims to find a better equilibrium in those two development domains. Therefore, from this year equal attention will be given to social and economic development. This shift in focus also has consequences for the organizational structure of the Federation. The Federation consists of member village organizations at grass-roots level, the social and economic resource centres at district level and the Federation’s headquarters at national level.