COLOMBO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's seafood export sector has shown a strong demand and higher prices in the global market even during the COVID-19 pandemic, local media qouted Prabhash Subasinghe, Chairman of Sri Lanka's Export Development Board as saying here on Friday.

Speaking at an online forum organized by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank, Subasinghe said that the demand for local seafood exports in the global market amidst the virus outbreak was beneficial for the country but air freight rates had skyrocketed, as airlines were grounded worldwide.

Key seafood exports from Sri Lanka include fresh and frozen yellowfin tuna, shrimp, prawns, and crabs, which is valued around 300 million U.S. dollars. The main markets are Europe, the United States and Japan, according to local media.

The government declared seafood as an essential service soon after nationwide curfews started.

Currently as the country remains under an islandwide curfew to prevent a further spread of the virus, factories and fishermen are still working. Enditem

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