‘Privileged’ to fish in lockdown
While it may not be their usual work attire, Saavid Diving Limited is making sure to take every measure possible to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
The Marlborough-based team work in full personal protective equipment (PPE) as they unload, sort and grade pa¯ua froma dive the day before.
Saavid Diving director Jason Baker said they knew how privileged they were to be able to operate during the lockdown.
‘‘We feel very privileged still being able to operate under level four, so if that’s what we need to do then that’s OK,’’ Baker said.
‘‘It’s all about keeping our crew and ourselves safe but also making absolutely sure we do our bit for the wider community and eliminate any chance of spreading the virus.’’
Stuff is celebrating the coronavirus champions – including essential services workers and community volunteers – who have kept New Zealand going through lockdown.
Saavid Diving has been operating throughout level four, though with a reduced crew. Demand has also reduced at the moment.
‘‘We supply domestically and for export and, obviously, both are those are severely affected at the moment,’’ Baker says.
‘‘At the moment, we’ve only done five days’ work during lockdown, because of the lack of demand.
‘‘We specialise in supplying live product with our holding facility. So it’s just sort of been in keeping a bit of product ticking over through our holding facility.’’
But while the disease may have cut back their daily activity, being able to operate at all is ‘‘a lot better than a lot of other people’’.
Baker says PPE is worn at all times when the crews were working. Crews must also travel to work in separate vehicles unless they live in the same house, and maintain social distancing at work.
He thinks about his own safety ‘‘the more he leaves his bubble’’.
‘‘Wearing the PPE, I feel like we’re taking enough precautions so it should be fine. I feel pretty safe.’’
Under alert level three, guidelines for pa¯ua divers remain the same, and the team will continue to operate in PPE.