Fishermen say COVID-19 is not passed on by fish
By
Melani Manel Prerera
Sales collapsed a after a viral outbreak at a Colombo fish market.
Activists urge the authorities to conunter public disinformation. Fishing industry
workers are unable to pay debts. Advocates want the government to provide
refrigerated sites and buy unsold stock.
Colombo (Asia News) – Sri Lankan fisherman have started a campaign
to inform the public that COVID – 19 is not transmitted from fish to humans.
Fishing industry advocacy group also urge the government to take
steps to protect the fishing industry from the effects of the pandemic.
After a COVID – 19 outbreak was reported in Colombo’s Paliyagoda
Fish Market, fish sales collapsed as a result of fears that fish could spread
the pulmonary virus.
In a statement released yesterday, advocacy groups called on the
authorities to support fisherman and launch an information campaign on the real
dangers posed by the corona virus.
They stress that the government action must be immediate to prevent
hunger and starvation among workers in the fishing industry and families.
According to Herman Kumara, National coordinator of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Organization, and special guest the World Fisherman’s
Forum, misinformation about the spread of COVID-19 has caused enormous damage
to fisherman.
He wants the government to remedy this situation. “Small fisherman
are unable to sell what they catch and also have difficulty in carrying out
their business due to the curfew, “he told
AsiaNews
Indeed, fishermen “are facing a massive crisis,”said Jude Vianny,
a multi-day trawler fisherman from Kudamaduwella, Chilaw. Fisherman “are unable
to repay the loans they contracted to go fishing. “For this reason,” The
government should intervene in this matter as soon as possible.”
Vianny explains that a fishing trip of several day can cost at
least 1.1 million rupees (almost US $ 6,000).
He complains that the authorities are not buying the unsold stock, nor
providing refrigeration sites to store it.
Echoing his demands, advocacy groups urge the government to help
out in this time of crisis by the fish at a fair price.
