As a result of the corona virus, the fish wholesaler and the fish processing industry are under pressure from various sides. Guus Pastoor, chairman of the Dutch Fish Federation and of the European umbrella organization AIPCE CEP, believes that everything should be done to keep the sector running.
“The general principle must be that food production and distribution continue as smoothly as possible. This is adequately endorsed in the Border Management Directive issued by the European Commission. The only question is how things work out in practice.
The fishing sector is one of the essential sectors (food), with products that are also important to consumers in view of the health aspects. It is therefore very important to continue the production and supply of fishery products as much as possible. Because certain market segments have come to a standstill, it is important to properly match the supply to the remaining market demand.
First of all, there is of course concern for the staff and the continuity of production. These are food companies, in which hygiene is a prerequisite. This makes companies vulnerable, because screening for disease symptoms may lead to extra precautions more than elsewhere. In most cases there are labor-intensive processes, which often take place in shifts. Disease due to illness quickly leads to problems in the workplace. In distribution, companies and employees are confronted with additional risks and therefore with necessary precautions.
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