The prices of fish in the Kismayo fish market in Jubbaland state has sharply increased in recent past due to little fish landing.
A kilo of fish meat is now being sold at 6 dollars, which is equivalent to 156,000 Somali shillings, a price many fish consumers are unable to afford. A kilo of fish used to retail at 3 to 4 dollars before the price hike.
The price increase in fish meat was caused by the severe stormy weather which is currently being witnessed in the sea waters thus making Kismayo fishermen unable to fish in the dangerous stormy waters.
Mohamed Hussien Ilmi, a fish trader at the Kismayo fish market said he suffered severe business losses owing to lack of fish from the sea waters. He added that he is unable to purchase the few fish brought to the fish market due to its price hike.
However, few fish traders at the Kismayo fish market have capitalized on the season of little fish in the market and hiked the price of fish to customers.
The Jubbaland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has already issued a warning to the fishermen in Lower Jubba region to seize their fishing expeditions in the stormy sea waters untill its safer to fish.
