GENERAL SANTOS CITY- The local fishing industry here is set to lose some P400 million in revenues once the city’s fish port complex shuts down its operation from September  2 to September 5 after several workers at the fish port facility reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The local Inter-Agency Task Force has recommended to the management of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) to shut down the operations at the fish port complex after several COVID-19 cases have been traced to workers at the fish port facility.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the closure of the fish port complex will pave the way for the conduct of contact-tracing of those who could have had close contact with the COVID-19 patients, as well as the disinfection of the three fish port market areas.

Rosana Contreras, executive director of the SOCCSKSAGEN Fishing Federation and Allied Industries, said more than 8,000 fish traders, fishermen and workers at the fish port will be displaced during the four-day shutdown of the fish port facility.

She estimated the revenue losses at P418 million during the closure of the fish port one of the country’s major fish port facilities with an average landing of 520 metric tons of fish catch daily.

She stressed that the city government had assured to provide relief assistance to workers and fishermen who will be affected by the temporary closure of the fish port facility.

She said the PFDA management and the Barangay Covid-19 Control Force will draw up safety and health protocols, including the setting up of thermal scanner and issuance of digital control code for workers and visitors entering the fish port complex.