Seafood prices continue to soar in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Even three months after the new fishing season, there is no respite for the seafood lovers in the city from the skyrocketing prices of prawn, fish and a few other varieties.

The fisherfolk attribute that several species of marine catch are dwindling at an alarming rate due to various reasons and hence the seafood lovers have to cough up more prices for the branded varieties.

“Every Sunday, I visit the fishing harbour in the city to purchase some quality prawn and fish. But best class prawn varieties, including tiger prawn, brown and popular fish varieties such as white pomphret are not visible in the market,” says P. Vasu, a seafood lover.

While the big size white prawn is priced around Rs 650 a kg, the brown prawn (medium size) is sold around Rs 350 a kg.

Similarly, the much demanded white pomphret costs around Rs 600-Rs 800 a kg, depending on the size and the cost of the seer fish is also around Rs 500-Rs 600 a kg.

Many consumers feel  the prices of  seafood is yet to come down and getting quality prawn and fish is also a difficult task due to low availability in the market.

President of Visakha Dolphin Boat Owners Association Ch. Satyanarayana Mur-thy said that due to low catch of fish and prawn, the seafood has turned dearer to consumers in the city.

Mr Murthy said marine pollution, dry spell and a few other reasons have led to poor catch in the season. A few years back,  whenever a mechanised used to go on a voyage, we used to haul at least 120 kg of prawn and around 100 kg  fish. Now, we are hardly getting 20-30 kg shrimp, he added.