Fish Prices Shoot Up

RAS AL KHAIMAH — The prices of fish have gone up here due to the shortage in supply as the bad weather conditions continue to prevent fishermen from venturing into the sea.

The customers who visited the fish market in Ras Al Khaimah in the past few days said the traders were selling hamour at Dh45 per 1kg instead of Dh30 they charged last month.

Ahmed Abdul Karim, an Emirati customer, said the price of 1kg of sherry has risen from Dh15 to Dh25 and that of biyah from Dh25 to Dh30-35.

Ali Sajeed, a fish trader, said the prices of other species of fish, including safi, have also increased by more than 30 per cent due to the huge shortage in supply.

Since Saturday, many fishermen have reduced their trips to the sea due to the rains and the strong winds which also made the sea unstable. “A few fishermen who still go to the sea come up with smaller catches but demand higher prices,” said Sajeed.

Mohammed Majid, a fisherman in Ma’aridh area, said those who still venture into the sea for fishing in these weather conditions are risking their lives.

“I have docked my fishing boat on the beach and I have not moved out since Sunday. The sea is very unstable. There are strong winds and the conditions are rough especially at night which is the best time for trapping fish,” said Majid.

Regular fish customers are not impressed by the reasons behind the increase in the prices. They believe the traders and fishermen are fleecing customers in the name of bad weather.

Ahmed Al Baroushi, an official from the Consumer Protection Unit at the Department of Economic Development here, said though there is a shortage of fish, the fishermen are not supposed to increase the prices without approval from the department.

He promised that the officials would intervene to stabilise fish prices in the markets.

(from khaleej times)