Multi-day boat owners are bleeding up to Rs. 4 million per vessel as the Government’s troubled QR code-based fuel rationing system begins to take a heavy toll on the fisheries sector, with daily fishermen left unable to head out to sea for want of fuel even as fish prices remain high, industry sources told The Daily Morning yesterday (18).
President of All Island Multiday Fishing Boat Owners' Association, Tyrone Mendis, lamented that while multi-day boats are getting their full fuel ration, the price of that fuel is now too high.
“At the same time, prices for some fish have dropped sharply. Together, these factors are pushing boat owners into heavy losses. Even though we are given a sufficient ration of fuel, they are too pricey. Amidst the reduction of prices in the market for fish exports, we are experiencing a loss of Rs. 3-4 million per multi-day boat sometimes," he added.
Mendis also said, tuna prices have especially come down. "We used to sell tuna at around Rs. 1,900-2,000 per kilo. Now, we can’t export them and hence there is a surplus in the market. The prices have gone down to Rs. 700-800. We cannot sustain the industry like this. Even though we have requested a meeting with the Fisheries Ministry, they have still not given us a date," he added.
Meanwhile, the daily fishermen face a different problem. Prices for locally consumed fish have gone up, but according to the fishermen, this is because of the seasonal drop in catch - not the fuel crisis. However, they say that they cannot take advantage of these high prices because they cannot find fuel. A fisherman from Matara, Nilantha Kumara told The Daily Morning that the fishermen cannot go to sea even when market prices are good. "We have a good price these days. Yet, we don't have a continuous supply of fuel at the petrol sheds, hence, we cannot go fishing on a daily basis as usual. Hence, our business is disrupted," he concluded.
Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Fisheries, Aquatic, and Ocean Resources Ministry, Dr. B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa has announced the implementation of a new fuel management system aimed at ensuring the continued sustainability of the fisheries sector. The initiative follows decisions taken during a high-level discussion chaired by the President.