Fish Prices Fall Sharply

Fish, the staple food of several communities, including nationals, had literally become out of reach of the common man due to prohibitive rates during the summer months last year.

Hamur, a species mostly popular with citizens, was being sold for between QR18 and QR30 a kg. The price, retailers at the Central Fish Market said yesterday, had plummeted to QR14 a kg.

"We had stopped buying Hamur after it touched QR25 a kg and this is the first time in months that we will be having this fish at our dinner table tonight," a Filipino national, who didn't give his name, said.

Many nationals were seen buying Hamur at the fish market but some of them said they had not fully stopped eating it when its prices had soared. "Yes, it was expensive during summer but we used to have it at least twice a week. It's a matter of habit. You develop taste for it and then can't do without it" a citizen, giving his first name as Abdul Aziz, said. "You must remember that Hamur is one of our favourites," he said.

"I can't simply believe that Shery is available for QR6 a kg," a jubilant Indonesian national said briefly. He said he was at the fish market after almost six months. "I had stopped coming here due to high prices."