Coronavirus threat hits fish business hard

Visakhapatnam: The deadly outbreak of coronavirus has triggered health warnings across several parts of the world. Visakhapatnam is no exception to it.

With social media turning out to be an effective platform to spread the dos and don'ts followed by signs and precautionary measures, staying away from animal products and seafood topped the chart among other 'shared messages'.

As a result, the sea fish trade has been impacted in the recent past as there's barely any sale witnessed in the markets. 'Konam', 'vanjram' tuna, pomfret and tiger prawns are among the most sought-after varieties of the consumers in Visakhapatnam.

Apart from the City of Destiny, varieties such as 'konam' 'vanjram', pomfret and tiger prawns have larger demand in Kerala, Chennai, Odisha and Mumbai. Tonnes of shrimps will be exported to Japan, Thailand the US, say fish traders.

"However, in the recent days, seafood has come down drastically as many consider it a potential carrier of the coronavirus, sea fish in particular. I guess, the threat continues for a while and the business is likely to come down further in the next few weeks," explains Chodipalli Nagaraju, a wholesale fish trader at Revupolavaram, S Rayavaram mandal.

Fish markets don a deserted look as consumers refrain from stuffing the shopping bags with their favourite variety. "As such business is pretty dull. Keeping the coronavirus threat in view, if we get any instruction further to stop trading for a while, it would affect our business badly. In addition to the looming threat, overall catch is also low.

Apparently, rise in the coastal pollution and diesel rate followed by unfavourable weather conditions are other factors adding to the woes of the fish traders," shares Ch Satyanarayana Murthy, president of Vaisakha Dolphin Boat Operators Welfare Association.

A majority of fish traders say that very low quantum of sale is being recorded across the markets in the district and the situation is only going to turn from bad to worse in the coming days.