By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

The prices of several popular fish varieties in Qatar have risen sharply.
There have been less than normal fish buyers at retail outlets as well as the central market over the last few days, it is learnt. The trend is expected to continue at least until the beginning of September,
according to suppliers.
The situation is largely due to the poor supply to the central market, caused by a low catch generally seen during this time of the year, say major suppliers.
For instance, the price of large Hamour has gone up to QR85 per kg in the wholesale market. This rises by a further QR5-10 in retail outlets. Things are not much different for some other popular varieties as well, the sources point out.
Suppliers fear further rise in the prices in coming days as adverse natural conditions like high temperatures and strong winds in the offshore areas might affect fishing.
Attributing the price hike to a host of reasons, some of the suppliers said the prices of some fish have shot up across the region since trouble started in Yemen. A drastic fall in the supply of popular varieties such as mackerel and sardines from Yemen has pushed up their prices to alarming levels over the last fortnight, they add.
For example, mackerel, which was being traded for QR10 per kg or less until recently, was being sold for QR20 per kg yesterday. “I don’t remember a time when the price of mackerel had touched such high levels,” said a trader, who said the rise in sardine prices, too, had few parallels in recent years. One kilo of sardines was available for a higher-than-usual QR8-10 per kg yesterday.
Shamal Shafi and Sultan Ibrahim, which are popular among local customers, have also become expensive. They were being sold for QR70 per kg and above in the wholesale market yesterday.
A supplier said there was a high demand for sardines and mackerel among workers
before their prices shot up.
On the other hand, it is learnt that varieties such as Indian prawns are becoming more popular among some customers as the prices of other fish increase. They are available for QR20-25 per kg in the wholesale market.