Easter fish shortage, high prices hit early sales at markets

Fish vendors were bracing for a lean Easter weekend as high prices, rough seas and reduced catches combined to keep popular species like dolphin and flying fish off many stalls.

As the island prepares for the long holiday weekend — a peak period for seafood consumption — the atmosphere at the market is one of cautious optimism. While footfall has been described as a “trickle”, many stallholders are banking on the traditional last-minute rush typical of Barbadian shoppers.

Donna, who operates the number one stall at the Bridgetown Fish Market, noted that while the pace is currently “in and out”, she expects the momentum to shift. “Bajans are last-minute people, so we just wait and see,” she said, adding that the current trend mirrors previous years when things start slowly before picking up.

The primary concern for both sellers and consumers this year is the lack of variety and the rising cost of staples. Donna emphasised that “dolphins are scarce at the moment” and “very expensive”, a sentiment echoed by several of her colleagues. Diana, another vendor at the market, confirmed that while her customers are “contented with what they’re getting so far”, the dolphin catches remain “really slim”.

She remained hopeful for the coming days, saying: “It will get better between tomorrow or probably late in the evening until Thursday.”

For some, the high costs have changed the way they do business. Shirley, a veteran vendor, said that flying fish is currently $17 a pound, making it difficult for many to afford. “Last year was far different,” she said. “Last year was good, but fish is too expensive now and I hope I ain’t able to buy a whole dolphin.”

Sharon Bellamy Thompson provided further insight into the supply chain issues, explaining that while marlin, billfish and tuna are available, other favourites are missing from the ice.

“The red snappers and the barracuda are very scarce because as you know, the waters are really rough, so the boats didn’t bring snappers for the last three weeks,” she explained.

She did note a silver lining for budget-conscious shoppers, mentioning that “jacks are plentiful” and have dropped to $3.50 a pound after two boats came in with large loads.

Despite the challenges, the market remains a hub of activity. Vendors such as Justine and Cynthia in the north of the island are keeping busy with the stock they have.

Cynthia Howard, a vendor in St. Lucy cleans a red snapper . Vendors are reporting slow sales ahead of the Easter weekend. (RR)

While busy cleaning and packaging, Cynthia said her current stock of red snapper was already spoken for. “I got customers with this,” she said. “I hope we get something to sell,” she added, as the weekend approaches.

As the island moves through Holy Week towards Good Friday, the consensus among the vendors is one of resilient patience. As Esther said while tending to her flying fish: “We are gonna be hoping for the best. That’s what we got to… let’s hope for the best.” 

(RR)