The closure of four major fishing harbours and three main markets in Ernakulam in view of the spike in Covid-19 cases has led to fish shortage in the district. Any fish coming in are being sold on roadsides or at smaller markets. Fisheries department officials said that there was no other option but to close down as landing centres and fishing harbours are places where people gather and it is very difficult to control crowd when catches are brought in. The district administration and health department had closed down the four harbours Munambam, Kalamukku, Thoppumpady and Chellanam due to the fear of community spread. The main markets Ernakulam, Aluva and Chembakkara which are also the wholesale points for fish being brought from different landing centres have also been closed. With these main points closed, traditional fishermen will probably sell their catch in smaller markets or in unorganized sale points. We didn’t have any other option. Since there is no total fishing ban as such, whatever catch the traditional fishermen get from the coastal waters and inland waters will be sold. They will be able to get some good price because right now we cannot allow any organized sale because of the possibility of crowding. In a fish landing centre, it is virtually impossible to prevent crowding. The department had been working with the police but we could not control it much. Closure for some days is the only option now since positive cases have been reported from the fishing community, said fisheries department joint director (central zone) M S Saju. Lots of people who were at Kalamukku were really scared because in the landing centre, nobody can stay away when boats or trucks arrive with catches. Now, some fish will be available because a few of the traditional fishermen are going. Prices also will shoot up, but it can’t be helped in the present condition, he said. The fisheries sector in the state has been bearing the brunt of fall in marine catches for some time now. A study on the economic impact on fisheries sector during the lockdown period by researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) put the daily loss at Rs 58 crore in the state. The total accumulated loss in terms of fish catch, landing centre and retail value realization as well as loss in export revenue was estimated at Rs 3,481 crore. The per day loss of fish catch was estimated at 14,000 tonnes while the retail centre value realization was estimated at Rs 44.8 crore per day amounting to Rs 2,690 crore in 60 days.