The Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ministry attributed the reported 40 per cent post-harvest loss in the fish industry largely to quality and nutritional deterioration rather than fish being physically discarded, mentioning the need to establish a proper cold chain to maintain freshness. 

Fish caught by multi-day fishing vessels can lose a significant part of their market value due to poor handling and inadequate preservation.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ministry Secretary Dr Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa said that measures are being taken to improve fish quality through better storage facilities and faster transportation from fishing grounds to land. 

“The 40%-60% post-harvest loss in the fish industry (deep-sea and offshore fisheries) is something that has been declared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). But in Sri Lanka, a situation where 40% of fish is being thrown away is not seen by anyone. It is the quality of the fish that is mentioned here. If a fish is in Grade A quality when you catch it, fetching Rs. 1,000, it could be downgraded to Grade C as it gets damaged and loses its freshness, and often used to make dried fish,” he said. 

He explained that such deterioration resulted in economic losses rather than the fish being discarded, reducing fishermen’s profitability if bruised or damaged during handling and transport, which then sell for between Rs. 500-700. He also said that Sri Lanka lacked the cold-chain infrastructure needed to maintain fish freshness.

The FAO identified poor onboard handling and storage, inadequate chilling facilities and delays between catching fish and bringing them to the market as factors contributing to these losses.

Dr Jinadasa said that the issue could be addressed by expanding the fishing boats’ capacity, replacing ice with cold rooms on boats and introducing collecting vessels and freezer trucks to transport fish to the land more quickly. 

“One of the other major reasons for the quality loss is that our fishermen fish in the deep seas for days, and the fish become less fresh. If they can employ collecting vessels to go and collect the fish at sea and bring them to land immediately, then the freshness and quality can be maintained,” he said. He added that the Ministry had provided allowances for five collecting vessels and that allocations had been made to establish a cold room with a capacity of 200 metric tonnes for the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation. He also highlighted the need for fishing-ground forecasting applications, which could help fishermen plan their trips and reduce the time spent travelling to and from fishing grounds.

Addressing concerns about formalin use, Dr Jinadasa said that sellers no longer use it to preserve fish, adding that naturally occurring formaldehyde after fish are caught contributed to the public’s perception that the practice continues.

However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said recently that nearly 40% of the annual fish production was lost due to post-harvest wastage and called for measures to mitigate the issue. The statements of Dr Jinadasa come as the Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry promotes fish as one of the most affordable sources of protein for the public.