Fisheries: Forex lost through post-harvest losses

The annual post-harvest loss in the fisheries sector is around 40 percent, according to the surveys conducted by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Department.

A spokesman revealed that the fish that has to be discarded is not even good for producing dry fish. The fisheries community unions have pointed out that since the ban imposed on fish exporting has been lifted by the EU, valuable foreign exchange which could be earned is lost through post-harvest losses.

It has been estimated that if the present post-harvest loss is avoided, the contribution of this sector to the GDP could be increased from 1.4 percent to 5 percent.

The department is launching a programme to reduce the post-harvest loss by conducting awareness programmes for fishermen, modernising fishing boats, introducing high-tech fisheries machinery, and advising farmers to use quality ice and water to keep fish fresh, using modern fish unloading systems, and upgrading freezing facilities at fishery harbors.

It is hoped to make the fishery industry the third-largest contributor towards the GDP. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry gets substantial technical advice and financial aid from major fish producing and processing countries including Norway.

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