Tsunami redefining consumption pattern in Sri Lanka ? by S Subasinghe, INFOFISH, Malaysia

Sri Lankans have a huge appetite for fish. Though the island is surrounded by sea, with a coastline of over 1700km on all sides, it is heavily dependent on seafood imports to satisfy the varying consumer needs. Sri Lanka imports over 130,000 MT of fresh fish equivalents annually to supplement its domestic production of around 325,000 MT. The major items imported are and canned fish. Over 20,000 MT of canned fish worth around US$ 16 million are imported annually from locations as far away as Chile to satisfy the local demand. In fact 90 % of the Sri Lankan canned fish market is catered by Chilean canned products, mainly Mackerel species in brine or in oil, retailed at around Rs 65.00-68.00/ can. Imports also come from Peru and Thailand. Unlike in the South East Asian region, canned fish in tomato sauce is not popular in Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA - BALANCE SHEET OF FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS IN LIVE WEIGHT AND FISH CONTRIBUTION TO PROTEIN SUPPLY

PRODUCTION IMPORTS EXPORTS POPULATION PERCAPITA FISH ANIMAL FISH/ANIMAL YEAR (in thousand) SUPPLY PROTEINS PROTEINS PROTEIN (tons in live weight) (in Kilogram) (grams per caput/day) 1995 244,171 95,396 6,867 18,041 18.4 6.1 11.8 51.7 1996 251,195 104,531 8,724 18,222 19.0 6.2 11.9 51.8 1997 262,349 131,429 9,872 18,399 20.9 6.9 12.7 54.1 1998 293,230 126,088 13,684 18,573 21.8 7.3 13.6 53.4 1999 307,530 124,158 9,728 18,747 22.5 7.3 13.5 53.9 2000 330,110 143,176 19,791 19,359 23.4 7.7 13.8 55.8 2001 309,510 132,606 15,552 19,608 21.7 7.1 13.8 51.4 2002 326,390 132,281 14,496 19,835 22.4 7.4 13.8 53.6

Compiled using FAO/INFOFISH Database

The product is consumed as "”, a savoury mix of uncooked canned fish, mixed with grated onions and green chili, salt and lime, or cooked in the form of a . It is also an essential ingredient in many other snack food preparations such as fish bun, fish roll, fish Pattie etc.

Sri Lankans are also heavy consumers of dried fish. The local production is in no way adequate to satisfy the huge domestic market and is supplemented by imports from Pakistan, , and some South East Asian countries as well. Annual imports of around 45,000 mt of the product with a total import value of over US$ 33 million, is poor man's staple fish product, especially those in rural areas and in inland tea and rubber plantations.

Quantity and Value of Imports of Fish and Fishery Products, 1998 - 2002

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002*

Description Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn)

Maldives Fish 2,669.2 406.9 3,383.2 454.9 4,316.6 655.6 5,569.0 1,003.0 6,133.0 996.0 Dried Fish 49,426.5 2,195.3 45,311.7 2,030.5 50,550.2 2,979.4 45,280.0 3,262.0 44,488.0 2,930.0 Canned Fish 19,108.9 1,317.8 17,032.2 1,447.0 21,893.5 1,469.9 20,331.0 1,473.0 20,166.0 1,740.0 Others 9.4 3.0 4.2 1.6 578.5 26.8 407.0 29.0 749.0 81.0 Total 71,214.0 3,923.0 65,731.3 3,934.0 77,338.8 5,131.7 71,587.0 5,767.0 71,536.0 5,747.0

* Provisional Source: Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Department of Sri Lanka Customs

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Another unique Sri Lankan delicacy is "Maldive Fish", hard, smoke-dried loins of skipjack, mainly imported from the Maldives. The product, which is a crude form of the Japanese delicacy "”, is grated and added to to give it a unique fishy flavour. It is also used in a special "Sambal" preparation, a savoury mix of red onion, dried red chili, lime and salt. "Maldive Fish" is re-exported in various forms, whole cleaned loins, powdered, grated or in the form or prepared products to many foreign ethnic markets.

Impact of tsunami on fisheries

The December 26 tsunami devastated the Sri Lankan fishery sector, damaging 70-80% of the domestic fleet strength. The most affected areas, the North-East and Southern coasts, produce nearly 73% of marine landings, estimated at 275,000 MT in 2002. Obviously, with such a vast destruction to the domestic fishing fleet and loosing nearly 10 percent or 12,400 (7,200 confirmed dead and over 5,200 missing) of the 110,000 or so fishermen population, the domestic fresh fish supply would be definitely affected in months to come.

Marine Sector Fish Production by Fisheries Districts, 1997 - 2002 Metric tons Fisheries District 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002* Batticaloa** 9,100 10,100 10,900 9,860 11,450 15,140 Chilaw 22,900 23,950 24,260 25,650 23,960 19,900 Colombo 2,800 3,230 2,920 3,130 2,810 2,980 Galle** 24,400 24,750 24,980 27,830 26,760 25,060 Kalmunai** 6,500 8,320 8,960 9,120 10,650 17,750 Kalutara** 25,400 28,530 29,970 33,140 32,110 29,470 Matara** 30,400 33,750 34,450 35,480 34,410 34,000 Negombo 27,750 29,720 29,820 33,540 32,620 26,490 Puttalam 24,100 27,310 27,930 29,730 28,030 23,560 Tangalle** 27,100 31,220 32,990 33,470 28,050 26,860 Trincomalee** 8,800 12,870 14,770 13,540 14,790 18,980 Mullaithivu** 3,820 Killinochchi** 1,480 Jaffna** 12,340 Mannar** 16,930 Northern Province*** 5,500 6,200 6,500 8,190 9,250 34,570 Total 214,750 239,950 248,450 262,680 254,890 274,760 * Provisional ** Heavily affected by the tsunami *** Northern province consists of Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu & Mannar Districts Source: INFOFISH/ Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources

The average per capita fish consumption of 22 kg /year accounts for nearly 55% of the animal protein intake of the average Sri Lankan (over 70% in some sectors of the population). With nearly 75% of the domestic supply affected, a sharp drop in the availability of fish in the domestic market is inevitable in the short term. This may not be felt at this juncture as the domestic consumer demand for fresh fish is yet to pick up after the "negative consumer reaction" in the post-tsunami days. On the other hand, consumer demand for dry fish and canned fish have increased significantly, with the price of most varieties of dry fish increasing by over 30% from the pre-tsunami levels for example, 100gms of dried Trevally ("Katta") which was retailed at Rs 38/100gm now costs Rs 50/100gm. On the other hand both dry fish and canned fish have also been an important component in disaster relief food programmes. The canned fish stocks still hold firm as most importers have stock piled to tide over the lean period of Chilean and Peruvian canned fish exports. Once the stocks are depleted perhaps Sri Lankan importers may have to fall back more on imports from the South East Asian exporters mainly Thailand.

2 Due to the poor price and demand for fresh fish some fishermen have resorted to drying their catch, though this in no way would help to bridge the gap in the supply and demand and stabilize the prices to any significant level. Increased price and poor availability of dry fish could thus undoubtedly affect the animal protein intake of many inland populations for sometime to come. Considering the fact that as per WHO nearly 30% of the children population of the country is already experiencing varying degree of under nourishment, the emerging situation needs urgent attention.

Quantity and Value of Exports of Fish and Fishery Products, 1998 - 2002

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002*

Description Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value Qty Value (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn) (MT) (Rs Mn)

Prawns 5,091.8 4,474.1 2,715.6 2,274.7 4,855.0 5,041.4 3,941.0 4,300.0 3,368.0 3,286.0 Lobsters 164.0 195.1 244.8 268.0 164.2 157.1 198.0 221.0 272.0 317.0 Crabs 486.0 111.0 506.8 123.6 554.5 154.2 677.0 203.0 1,302.0 374.0 Beche-de-Mer 202.7 269.8 99.7 171.2 86.7 143.3 84.0 166.0 140.0 257.0 Ornamental Fish 1,043.4 530.8 995.7 559.9 1,013.2 593.3 790.0 545.0 640.0 529.0 Chank & Shells 602.9 81.7 652.7 94.1 697.6 90.0 498.0 92.0 324.0 58.0 Shark Fins 76.5 138.0 89.1 169.5 118.8 305.2 85.0 242.0 83.0 215.0 Molluscs 86.6 32.7 9.5 10.3 14.6 14.1 25.0 13.0 55.0 37.0 Fish Maws 1.4 0.6 1.1 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 Fish 3,678.8 898.6 4,408.8 1,448.0 11,873.3 3,781.5 8,996.0 3,291.0 7,724.0 2,887.0 Others (1) 69.6 10.9 188.3 47.0 276.0 61.0 263.0 84.0 Total 11,434.1 6,732.4 9,793.4 5,130.9 19,567.1 10,328.0 15,571.0 9,136.0 14,172.0 8,047.0

* Provisional (1) Fish Oil, fat, etc Source: Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Department of Sri Lanka Customs

The damage to domestic fleet operations has also impacted exports from the country. It has come at a time when the industry was reeling from fuel price hike. Fish exports from Sri Lanka (mainly gilled and gutted tuna and tuna loins) have increased almost three fold in value over the last five-year period. Due to the poor domestic demand for fish many fishermen have been not so enthusiastic to go all out in rehabilitating their operations. This has resulted in a poor tuna supply situation. The damages to the Maldivian fleet operations have also affected imports of fresh tuna for re-export and dry fish/ Maldive fish imports from the country. Exporters feel that to mitigate this situation, the government should request EU to consider scrapping the 18% duty on tuna imports from Sri Lanka. The industry is also affected by the heavy damages to coastal fisheries infrastructure. Most of the ice plants, cold storages and freezing plants are damaged or are not in full operation. As per government estimates the damages to Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation alone is estimated at over US$ 17 million.

All is not bleak in the tuna export sector. The boats which survived the tsunami has started operations in many parts of the island, especially on the North Western Coast. Some export-processors are now focussing more on day-boats for long-line tuna for export. There is also a post-tsunami move to introduce 1000 fully equipped 19 foot day-boats for long-lining on an emergency basis, each costing around Rs 400,000 (US$ 4000). Plans are afoot to import one ton capacity fiberglass tanks, each costing US$ 335, from Iceland for the purpose. The Ministry is joining hands with private sector and donors in this effort.

However, exports of shrimp, the second major item of seafood export, is not expected to get affected by the tsunami, as most of the farms, except for a few on the East coast, are located on the tsunami shielded West-coast of the island. In fact according to some fish farmers in the area, Tsunami waves have helped to flush out the “Dutch Canal” somewhat, along which most of the shrimp farms are dotted. Farmers believe this, and possible ecological changes in the coastal waters, may even improve the disease situation and productivity of the farms - a phenomenon they compare with post El-nino surges in fish landings in the Western Pacific.

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