Fish prices stable despite LPG shortage hitting trawlers

Panaji: Fish prices have so far remained largely moderate, even as deep-sea fishing vessels stayed anchored due to a shortage of commercial LPG. Fish vendors said that although the number of boats venturing into the sea has reduced, there was still adequate supply of certain fish varieties, due to fishing by traditional fishermen.Among the commonly available fish, karli (silver bar) is selling between Rs 200 and Rs 600 per piece, depending on size, while dodyaro (croaker fish) is priced at around Rs 300 per vatto. Squid is priced at roughly Rs 400 per kg, with smaller squids selling at around Rs 250 per kg. Prawns continue to be widely available, with prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 600 per kg. White crabs are selling at approximately Rs 300 per kg, while black crabs around Rs 600 per kg.

Mackerel, however, saw an increase, now selling at around Rs 300 per kg as opposed to Rs 200 earlier, while smaller varieties are available for about Rs 150 per kg. Premium fish often found in deep waters remain costly, with chonak (Asian sea bass) at about Rs 2,000 per piece, kingfish around Rs 1,200, and white pomfret for around Rs 1,600 per kg. Even the usually affordable lepo (sole fish) has risen to about Rs 400 per kg.

Vendors say the limited supply of premium fish varieties is linked to the reduced number of large boats operating in deep waters.“Large fishing vessels have not been venturing far into the sea, due to which the current fish catch is dominated by shrimp and fish species commonly found along the coastline. There are plenty of mackerels and prawns in the market because most fishing activity is happening closer to the shore,” a fish vendor said.Fishing boat owners say they are carrying limited cylinders just to cook food onboard during fishing trips,