Sharq fish market witness hike in cod fish prices

Sharq fish market witnessed an unprecedented hike in the price of cod fish, the fishing season of which began at the beginning of this month. This is because the quantity caught is so less that the market is devoid of them, which pushed its price to an unbelievable level that baffl ed the consumers.

Previously, this type of fish used to be sold at KD 1 for six kilograms but today the price has flipped to KD 6 per kilogram due to its scarcity, amidst the astonishment of the market goers who visited the market yesterday morning to buy the “scarce” cod fish only to be surprised by its absence and the high price. This resulted in great discontent among the consumers over this outrageous price hike.

Head of the Kuwait Fishermen Union Dhaher Al-Soyyan attributed the matter to the delay of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) in issuing fishing permits due to the Eid holidays.

He said, “The union had earlier applied for 22 fishing licenses, but they were not issued until the end of the working hours yesterday”. The annual permits were no less than 50 fishing permits, but the small number of fishermen and the failure to open the way by the Ministry of Interior to issue entry visas for them have contributed to the reduced level of fishing, despite the many appeals that were submitted to His Highness the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior.

With the closing of the door for issuance of permits for fishermen, and the opening of the field for fishing, the price of a basket of cod fish will reach KD 200 in the coming days.