The Hindu Business Line : Tsunami to affect fishing sector in short run: SEAI

THOUGH the initial reports have indicated that the export capability of the seafood industry may not have been seriously hit by the recent tsunami, later assessments have shown extensive damage to the sector, says a press release issued by the Seafood Exporters' Association of India (SEAI).

Many fishing hamlets have been wiped out and over 70,000 fishing vessels have been wrecked, most of them being uninsured. The fishermen have no other skills or means of livelihood and it will take a long time for them to resume their vocation. This situation will have "a telling effect on the seafood industry, undermining its shrimp and cephalopod exports in the short run".

The impact on aquaculture farms is `equally devastating'. A large number of aqua farms near the coastline have been inundated, leaving a trail of destruction.

"Most Indian aqua farms are owned and managed by small farmers who do not have the strength to recover from such a huge blow," the release issued by Mr U.K. Viswanadha Raju, the President of the SEAI, has said.

The loss to the aqua sector extends even to shrimp hatcheries on the coastline, having a ripple effect on the farms. The seed production will also be affected.

However, as assured by the experts, the quality of seafood or catches will not be affected by tsunami and there is cause for concern on the count, adds the release.

Mr Raju has urged the Union Government and the different States to help the fisherfolk, aqua farmers and hatchery owners to come out of the crisis.

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