Impact unlikely on seafood exports due to marine disaster from X-Press Pearl

• No impact on quality and quantity of seafood exports as majority of products sourced from North 
• Extreme weather conditions in North have lost nearly US $ 0.5mn for industry over past fortnight
• Due to disaster, seafood supply for local market to witness a short-term contraction  
• Fisheries Ministry suspends issuing licences until completion of ongoing investigation 

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
The seafood exports from Sri Lanka will not be impacted due to the contamination of the waters by the chemical spillage from the burning container ship X-Press Pearl, as the bulk is sourced from the Northern region, assured the seafood exporters.

Speaking to Mirror Business, the Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (SEASL) said that in the short run, there would be no impact, as the required quantities have already been sourced. However, the long-term implications are yet to be quantified. “For exports, Sri Lanka sources the majority of the seafood products from the North. Therefore, the pollution caused by X-Press Pearl will have no impacts on the quality and the quantity of our exports,” SEASL President Dilan Fernando assured.

The major marine disaster has no implications on the country’s seafood exports but the sector has been hit nonetheless due to the cyclonic conditions in the North.

According to Fernando, the industry has lost nearly US $ 0.5 million over the last few weeks, due to the extreme weather conditions in that region.

Meanwhile, Fernando said although the marine disaster has not affected the supply for exports, seafood supply for the local market will witness a contraction in the short term.  

The Fisheries Ministry called for the suspension of all fishing activities in the surrounding areas of X-Press Pearl earlier this week.

The activities will be suspended until a thorough research on the marine ecosystem is carried out, the Fisheries Ministry said.

The relevant authorities were seen making urgent requests to those engaged in fishing activities near the Negombo Lagoon, Negombo Beach and Colombo Beach to call off all efforts.

The Fisheries Ministry said it would not issue licences until the ongoing investigation reaches completion.
The fire on X-Press Pearl was first reported on May 20, after the ship arrived at a Colombo anchorage, approximately 9.5 miles from the entrance to the harbour. The fire is believed to have started due to a chemical reaction of a nitric acid cargo.