Half a million kgs of Fish unsold; 50,000 vendors affected

The country's major fish markets closed down as the potential threat of the COVID19 virus spreading through its workers, customers and associates increased, leaving behind an unsold stock of more than half a million kilograms of fish, officials said. Export markets also were hit as a result after most suppliers from various parts of the county including the north and east also stopped sending supplies to Colombo from Friday.

Health Ministry and Fisheries officials met yesterday to discuss how they could distribute the unsold fish stocks among consumers under health guidelines, but with the closure of fish markets and vendors pulling out of business, the authorities were facing difficulties in selling the stocks.

Major fisheries harbours and markets in Galle, Beruwala, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalpitiya, Puttalam, Mannar and Chilaw were closed down in addition to the Peliyagoda central fish market from where the bulk of COVID patients had spread.

In addition, fish markets in areas such as Nugegoda, Homagama, Panadura, Hatton, Thalwalakele, Negombo, Kurunegala and Dehiwala also have been shut down.

The majority of the fish vendors affected so far have had links with the Peliyagoda market which has wholesale and retail outlets. More than 800 people have tested positive from the Peliyagoda market and other fish markets.

Fifty three multiday fishing trawlers carrying more than 500,000 kilos of fish were anchored in Galle and Beruwala habours unable to unload the stocks with instructions for fishermen to remain onboard.

A senior Export Development Board official said setback to the fishing industry had also affected the exports as supplies had dropped during the past four days.

He said exports to Japanese and European markets were among those affected with a drastic reduction in the supply of lobsters, crabs and prawns.

“Since March, garment exports have been affected and now the sea food exports,” he said.

Last year Sri Lanka earned US$ 262 million from sea food exports.

Meanwhile All Ceylon Fisheries Federation spokesman Ratna Gamage said that as many as 50,000 fishermen and vendors were affected throughout the country with the closure of the harbours and fish markets.

Representing fisheries organisations in the north, Anton Sathkunarasa said that daily 200 lorries transported fish from Mannar, Mullaitivu and Jaffna, but during the past few days all these lorries had been stopped.