Covid-19: Government Permits Fishing And Aquaculture Sector To Operate During The Lockdown

In a major relief for fisheries and aquaculture sector, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has exempted the operations of fishing (marine) and aquaculture industry from the national lockdown which was imposed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, reports Livemint.

Issuing the orders for the same on Friday (10 April), the MHA has exempted the operations in the industries from the aforementioned sectors, including activities like feeding and maintenance, harvesting, processing, packaging, cold chain, sale and marketing.

The sectoral activities include those relevant to hatcheries, feed plants, commercial aquaria, movement of fish/shrimp and fish product and fish seed/feed.

While issuing the permission for the sector to operate, the MHA has however mandated that as specified in the lockdown measures, social distancing and proper hygiene practices will have to be ensured in each of the activities allowed for the industry.

Instructing the district authorities to ensure strict enforcement, the MHA in its notification has stated that the onus will be on the head of the organisation or establishment to ensure compliance.