Chilaw fishermen decide to stop going out to sea

Despite the Government granting permission for fishermen to go out to sea and fish during times of curfew, fishermen in Chilaw have made a collective decision to refrain from going out to sea from today (6) until further notice

The decision was taken by 10 fisheries organizations along the Chilaw coast. Accordingly, about 1200 one-day fishing boats will not be putting out to sea from today. 

Fisheries organizations stated that they took the decision to support the Government's efforts to combat COVID-19 and to minimise the risk of area residents being infected with the virus from people who come from outside the area. 

While commending the decision taken by Chilaw fishermen, the All Island Fisheries Federation stated that the Government needed to introduce a mechanism to look into their welfare of fishermen whose economic situation will only get worse due to their voluntary decision. 

In view of the decision taken by the fishermen, there were only very few fish stocks available today at the Chilaw Fish Market. Most stocks that were available had come from multi-day fishing trawlers that had put out to sea a few days ago and had returned with their catch today.

Text and Pix by Jude Samantha