Legal action against those spreading false news
‘Vannamei’ shrimp species
The falsehoods spread was a result of a dispute between two groups of hatchery owners
Baseless and malicious media reports that a species of shrimp imported to Sri Lanka has the potential to spread seven diseases including AIDS had done much harm to the country’s shrimp industry, Fisheries and Aquatic Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He said legal action would be taken against those who fabricated the reports and added that the species known as ‘Vannamei’ was imported from Hawaii on the request of shrimp farmers, as this species was a high quality shrimp variety with a high demand in the US, EU countries, India and Japan.
The minister told the media that the falsehoods spread about this species was a result of a dispute between two groups of hatchery owners who earlier requested the Fisheries Ministry to import the ‘Vannamei’ species of shrimp saying that farming this particular species in Sri Lanka was highly beneficial to the country.
“Now the same people have spread this canard because the Fisheries Corporation did not set up the hatchery for the imported Vannamei species in the area they wanted. We have set up the hatchery for breeding of Vannamei species in Mannar as a pilot project because Mannar is the best place for breeding of this particular species. The misinformation that this shrimp species is spreading various diseases is harmful to the shrimp industry and people have already stopped purchasing shrimp from Fisheries Corporation stalls. Therefore, we have decided to take maximum possible punitive action against those who spread those falsehoods including the withdrawal of registration of the hatchery and legal action,” the minister said.
He said this shrimp species would not have been imported by the developed countries if they carried such a dangerous virus. Besides, Vannamei has been approved by the FDAUS (Food and Drug Authority in the US) the most advanced monitoring body of food and drugs in the world. National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) Chairman Upali Mohotti, said those who gave the false and misleading information to the media would be dealt with appropriately.
“This misinformation campaign came at a critical time when the fisheries industry has begun increasing exports. Those who made the false allegation have pleaded with us to be lenient on their irresponsible action, but we are not ready to forgive them because it would take a long time to repair the damage,” he said.
“Vannamei is the fast growing shrimp variety in the world right now. Therefore, we
People have already stopped purchasing shrimp from Fisheries Corporation stalls
have decided to encourage hatchery owners to breed more of this species” Mr. Mohotti added.