Price of fish expected to double, says fisheries agency

 

LKIM was ready to supply frozen fish as an alternative for consumers, its chairman said.

BUKIT GANTANG: The price of fish is expected to double, having already risen by 15% since the start of the month, as the peak of the monsoon season approaches, the fisheries development authority (LKIM) said.

LKIM chairman Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the agency was ready to supply frozen fish to the market as an alternative for consumers.

Although the monsoon season was expected to end in March, Syed Abu Hussin said the supply of frozen fish would be in place until next May, when the supply of fresh fish was expected to stabilise.

“Normally, the price of fish will double during the monsoon season but as usual, we will release the stock of frozen fish,” he said after an event here.

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He added that LKIM will also increase the import of fish and encourage consumers to purchase freshwater and farm-raised fish instead.

Earlier, National Fishermen’s Association chairman Abdul Hamid Bahari reportedly said the price of fish has increased by 15% since the start of the month due to rough currents and uncertain weather conditions limiting fishing activities during the northeast monsoon season.

Although fishermen continued to go to sea, he said their catch was reduced with the limited supply causing a surge in prices. - FMT