Fish supply fluctuates, sardine prices surge

DAR ES SALAAM: THE availability of fish in the sea continues to fluctuate due to seasonal and weather conditions, resulting in moderate supplies and relatively stable prices, while limited supplies of small sardines have pushed their prices sharply higher amid strong demand.

Speaking to the Daily News, Fisheries Officer at the Ferry International Fish Market in Dar es Salaam, Ms Amina Mgaya, said fish species currently moderately available include octopus, tunalike bonito, trevally, yellowfin tuna and snapper.

She said supplies of small sardines, a staple food relied upon by many Dar es Salaam residents, had fallen below average, resulting in a significant increase in prices compared with previous periods due to high demand.

“There are days when fish are available in large quantities, but on other days they are scarce. Weather conditions greatly affect fishing activities because, at times, strong winds prevent small boats from going out to sea,” she said.

Ms Mgaya said a 20-kilogramme bucket of sardines currently sells for between 120,000/- and 150,000/-, compared with 25,000/- to 30,000/- previously.

However, she said that during seasons when sardines are plentiful, about 10 boats dock at the market carrying at least one tonne of sardines each, or more.

During periods of limited supply, the number of boats decreases, while those that go fishing return with only about 600 to 700 kilogrammes.

She said sardine availability also depends on weather conditions. During periods of strong winds and cold weather, the fish tend to move into deeper waters, forcing fishermen to venture further offshore to catch them.

In contrast, when the weather is calm, sardines tend to move closer to the surface, particularly during June, July and August, resulting in higher availability.

Speaking about octopus, Ms Mgaya said supplies had not declined significantly and remained moderate, while prices had remained relatively stable. She said a kilogramme of octopus currently sells for up to 15,000/-, compared with around 10,000/- per kilogramme during other periods.

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Ms Mgaya said the main market for octopus is export, adding that by her estimates, at least seven fishermen bring octopus baskets weighing 150 kilogrammes each, with each fisherman bringing at least five baskets per day.

Regarding bonito, she said its availability was also moderate and prices had remained relatively stable, with a kilogramme currently selling for 14,000/-, up from 12,000/- during seasons when the fish are abundant.

A mixed-fish fisherman operating in the Indian Ocean and conducting his business at the Ferry Fish Market, Mtoka Mussa, said fish supplies had moderately declined, while prices had increased slightly in line with rising operating costs.

He said small-scale fishermen like him currently catch between 100 and 150 kilogrammes per day, although the quantity can fall further depending on weather conditions.

Secretary of Zone Number 8B and a fish collector and trader at the Ferry Fish Market, Mr Mohammed Juma, said that, depending on demand and the season, they currently source fish from Mafia, Tanga, Kilwa and Bagamoyo to supply the Dar es Salaam market.

He said fish prices are determined by availability, with prices rising when supplies decline and falling when fish are available in abundance.

Small-scale sardine trader, Salome Kisiju from Mombasa Gongolamboto, who had travelled to the market to purchase sardines, said high prices were reducing her profit margins because of operating costs, including frying oil.