A discussion with regards to the above issue was held at the Ministry of Fisheries on 13.03.2024 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Douglas Devananda, with a group of representatives of the Association of Fish Exporters and the Association of Multi-Day Fishing Vessel Owners.
The multi-day vessel owners demanded that they be given a fair price for the fish they catch. The representatives of the association who commented here claimed for a price of at least Rs.2000 per kg for the tuna they harvest as they have been severely inconvenienced due to the increase in the price of fuel, ice, fishing gear, and the interference of traders and intermediaries. They further demanded for an accepted policy in this regard. In addition they requested for a system to recover the VAT imposed on fuel and an agreement made between the exporters and multi-day fishermen in relation to this matter. Expressing their views, they stated that, hundreds of multi-day fishing boats were not going to sea due to the current situation, and if this situation continued, they would have to leave this job.
The fish exporters, expressing their views on this occasion stated that tuna fish exports have suffered a setback because countries like Maldives and India are currently exporting tuna fish, therefore the price of Sri Lankan tuna fish is decreasing and the entry of inexperienced people into this field makes this field degrade. According to them, the other reasons for the degradation of this sector are the increase in fuel price, ice price and electricity charges.
In addition, they pointed out that they have also suffered setbacks due to factors such as the fall in the value of the dollar and the increase in airport reservation fees. They also mentioned that only a few export companies are currently active out of hundred of export companies.
After listening to the views of both parties, the Minister said that he understood the fairness of the facts presented by both the multi-day fishing vessel owners and the fish exporters and in this regard, he would give a solution by discussing with the relevant official in the Sri Lanka Board of Investment and the Income Tax Department. The minister also emphasized that the fishermen should sell the exporters fish with a good quality and the exporters should buy fish from the fishermen for a fair price. He further stated that he would take measures to cancel the permits of the export companies which are in the dormant state.
A group of high officials including State Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Piyal Nishantha, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Ms. Nayana Kumari Somaratne, Additional Secretary of the State Ministry, Ms. Anusha Gokula, and Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Susantha Kahawatta participated in this event.
