Fish prices drop, with safi now at BD3 in markets, following fishing ban

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: editor@newsofbahrain.com

Fish prices in Bahrain have seen a noticeable decline in recent weeks, with the average price of a kilogram of safi fish reaching around BD3, down from a peak of BD8 in August.

This price drop is attributed to the abundance of small safi fish in the markets, a result of the one-month fishing ban imposed by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.

The ban aimed to allow the fish population to replenish, particularly the smaller safi fish.

Fishmongers in the Jidhafs market confirmed that small local safi fish have become increasingly available, while larger safi fish remain scarce, leading to prices ranging from BD5 to BD6 per kilogram.

Some vendors also noted that imported fish, particularly from Oman, are available in larger quantities, but the limited local supply and fishing activity remain the primary factors driving up prices.

Main driver

Habib Jamri, owner of Jamri Fish Workshop, emphasised that safi fish is the main driver of fish prices in Bahrain, likening it to the US dollar.

He explained that if the price of safi fish rises, all other fish prices rise accordingly, and vice versa. Jamri attributed the increase in smaller safi fish to the fishing ban, noting that it has contributed to the proliferation of very small safi fish.

He also mentioned that the ban will be extended to two months instead of one, further strengthening the protection of safi fish stocks. Jamri highlighted that the lack of an effective ban last year resulted in a scarcity of small fish in the markets.

However, this year, thanks to the ban, there has been a significant increase in the availability of small safi fish, leading to a slight decline in prices.

Shortages

He also explained that imported fish from Oman might experience shortages in the markets due to weather conditions or shipping delays, directly impacting safi fish prices in Bahrain.

Jamri added that at the beginning of September, an increase in the availability of small Bahraini safi fish in the markets was observed, leading to a relative price decrease.

“The price of small safi fish ranged from BD2.5 to BD3.5 per kilogram, while medium-sized safi fish ranged from BD4 to BD6 per kilogram, due to improved local fishing catches,” he stated.

Jaafar Al Hilimi, owner of the Tashan Fish Workshop, confirmed that safi fish is available in the markets, but it is very small in size.

Imported fish

He stated that the market heavily relies on imported fish from Oman, which arrives daily. Al Hilimi mentioned that most restaurants use Omani fish, with some opting not to disclose the source and selling it as local.

He emphasised that increased fishing by fishermen would lead to a balance between supply and demand, but unfortunately, customer demand for safi fish remains low.

Al Hilimi predicted a decline in fish prices with the arrival of cooler weather, as fishing activity will increase.