Male: Maldives has decided to stop all export of raw fish to Europe, which has emerged as the epicenter of COVID 19. Approximately 99 percent of raw fish that used to be exported to Europe has now been ceased, announced Ensis Fisheries, a major fish exporter in the Maldives.

However, the company said that they are still exporting fish to the US.

The Managing Director of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Co. (MIFCO) Ismail Fauzee said the decision to stop export to Europe was also taken due to the closure of restaurants and hotels in several European countries, as well as the global slow-down of economic activities over the COVID-19 outbreak.

Fauzee said that private Maldivian companies that exported raw fish to Europe would be heavily affected by recent market changes. The majority of Maldives' export revenue is sourced from exports of fish, with raw fish shipments accounting for as many as 60 percent of fish exports.