With prices of vanjiram, nethili, sankara and kola on the dip, fish eaters in the city are a happy lot.
Wholesale traders in Kasimedu say vanjiram is selling at Rs. 470 a kg, nethili, between Rs. 120 and 130 a kg, and crab at Rs. 70 a kg.
This is because of decreased demand as festivals such as Vinayaka Chaturthi are ongoing.
Nanjil Ravi, a wholesaler, says with the fishing ban on the west coast being lifted, fish from Goa, Mumbai and Karnataka too are available in plenty in the city.
“We are also getting fish from Andhra Pradesh and south Tamil Nadu. Also, the opening of two new markets in Red Hills and Vanagaram has further pushed down the prices,” he says.
Ashok Nagar resident N. Vijayaraj, whose family prefers to consume fish because of its health benefits, says he is happy with the prices. “The rates at Kasimedu are quite good, which is why I have stocked up my freezer,” he says.
However, fish retailers in local markets form cartels at times, and increase prices arbitrarily, he says. “The government must intervene to ensure consumers get quality fish at appropriate prices,” says Mr. Vijayaraj.
Sources at Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation say fish prices are expected to climb back up by 10-20 per cent by month-end, as the fishing season on the east coast will come to a close by then.
“The seas will become rough and we will have to depend on fish from elsewhere,” says an official.
