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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Fall in
consumption of fish
by Vimukthi Fernando It is one of the largest markets in Colombo, where money changes hands in hundreds of thousands. A place visited early morning by many who come in lorries, vans, cars, three wheelers and even bicycles. Squashed in the crowds and yelling to be heard above the din, they buy and sell to their hearts' content ladening their goods into 86 large stalls and 100 retail stalls. About 5000 people eke out a living there, besides the rich and the resourceful Mudalalis - from assistants, cutters, wrappers and nattamis to the wayside fishmonger and those engaged in production and sale of ice. It is the St. John Fish Market at Colombo Fort. Thousands of kilos of fish were sold there just a few weeks ago, until the tsunami that devastated the island. Early days of the aftermath saw it deserted with nobody willing to taste fish. Myths and false information circulated during the period drove people to reject consumption of fish. Now, as the masses realise the truth, business is catching up. Though many stalls still stay closed, there is an equal number of fishmongers waiting in line to purchase fish. As the Sunday Observer team visited St. John Fish Market, on Friday, with voices filled with emotion the members of the fish market revealed their disappointment in a market that has come down to one fifth of its previous size. However, consumers, mostly female, expressed their willingness to re-introduce fish into their daily nourishment. "It is true that the tsunami ravaged the country. But, it was only one day. Though the country is involved in rebuilding, we are being hit by the tsunami day in and day out," says Chaminda Sanjeeva a stall owner who had been engaged in the business for the past 15 years. A sale of five thousand kilos of fish has come down to about one thousand, says Chaminda. His suppliers are from the North Western coast, which was spared by the tsunami - Kalpitiya, Mannar, Chillaw and Negombo. R.K. Neil Priyantha, a boat owner who is also involved in the purchase and sale of fish points to a Yellow-finned Tuna. "Do you know where they are spawned?," he questions and explains that the Yellow-finned Tuna found in the deep sea spawns in the African region close to Cape Town and travels upto Malaysia and Indonesia. There are many kinds of herbivorous fish who live on plankton, algae and the like. Some prey on small fish. Fish, unlike humans do not divert from their food or behaviourial patterns. Even sharks whom we fear, get attracted only to warm blood. All these fish varieties live in the deep sea about 30 to 50 miles off coast, while a body would drift off only about five miles maximum. Therefore, some of these scares are unfounded, says Neil. Kamal and Nalika Perera, a teacher and a nurse had come to the market for the variety available there, says the couple. After the tsunami, the regular fishmonger who usually visited their area does not visit as often. Moreover, "he brings only one or two kinds of fish nowadays," says Nalika. The price of fish is raised as consumption regains, says Kamal. "Even when it was not selling the price was not reduced more than ten to fifteen rupees. It is expensive today." They say that they had kept away from consuming fish for about a week or two. "Not because of any repulsiveness, but we just felt sad thinking about the devastation that the sea brought in." Shyamali and Manel two housewives were seen purchasing fish for a party. "What nonsense! These fish, especially the large fish such as Thalapath, Kelawalla, Balaya are caught in the deep sea. Those fishermen that were in their trawlers have not even felt the tidal wave. It all happened on shore. It is simply a lie to boost sales of meat and meat products, canned fish and dried fish," they say. M. Soundraraj a resident of Colombo is a 'nattami' who transfers fish from lorries and trucks to fish stalls and vice versa. "Whatever happens, it is the poor man who gets affected. I could manage to earn about Rs. 900 per day at Rs. 20 a basket of fish weighing 50 kilos, but now I cannot even earn Rs. 250," he laments. Margaret Nona, from Pepiliyana involved in fish packaging has a similar story. The bread winner on whom three other lives depend, "It brings hardly any money for me to live on. Yesterday was a good day with a daily sale of Rs. 300. Today it is a lot less," she says. A. W. M. Chaminda is a fisherman himself, and had come with his goods to Colombo. "I came because of the need to speak to the 'Mudalali.' I have got some loans from him and now find it hard to re-pay. How can I with about Rs. 9,000 for transport, 3,000 for ice and about 1,500 for food, drink and other expenses?" A boat owner from Gandara, Matara, whose trawler was in deep sea at the time of tsunami they could sell only about 1,700 kgs from their catch of eight days, says Chaminda. "When you set aside the cost of repairs and fuel, there is hardly any profit for the six of us who share the boat," he says. The fishing community is also disappointed that their grievances are not heard. "We come from Modara, Panadura. Upto now no one came there to find out what happened" say angry fishermen from Panadura. Out of about 80 boats only four are operational they say. At Gandara, Matara many non-boat owners have applied for boats say fishermen from Matara. "We are not against their application. What we oppose is the deprivation of those who are really affected," they say. Discrepancy and bias is rampant in the relief and rehabilitation process of the fisheries community they claim. Proud of their vocation and the service they offer, they try to stand on their own, to rebuild their lives after tsunami. "We do not ask for aid or relief measures. Our appeal to the people is to start consuming fish again, for the fisher community to lead a decent and independent life."
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