Low turnout of customers at the central fish market.
DOHA: Giving a brief respite to customers reeling from soaring fish prices in the country, the prices have drastically fallen in the central fish market due to low demand during the Eid Al Adha holidays.
The prices fell by more than 50 percent for many popular varieties, although they remained high in most other outlets in the city, including the big shopping malls and hypermarkets.
The plummeting prices have been attributed to low demand, especially from citizens.
Qataris mostly evade the fish market during Eid holidays with a change in consumption pattern, in favour of meat.
This is more true about Eid Al Adha, in which animal sacrifice is an essential part of the celebrations. Along with Qataris, a number of expatriates also perform this ritual and distribute the meat of the slaughtered animals among friends, neighbours and relatives.
Very few citizens were spotted at the central market yesterday, while the low prices have attracted a good number of expatriates. Popular varieties like Rubeeb, Safi, Sheri and Zubaidi were available at half the prices that existed before the holidays.
One kilogramme of Rubeeb was sold at QR18 in the central market yesterday while the same cost QR38 in a hypermarket in Doha. King fish (small) was available at QR15 and QR18 while the price was more than double in most outlets outside the central market.
Sheri was priced QR7, against QR15 some other outlets. Many other popular varieties were also available at negotiable prices, sometimes plummeting below QR10.
“The prices have fallen because Qataris are not coming to the market these days,” said a vendor.
Most vendors were willing to offer attractive discounts in a bid to win customers and sell out their stocks.
Big shopping malls have been cashing in on the low prices in the central market, by announcing promotions on a few varieties, while keeping the prices high for others.
Proliferation of cozy malls and hypermarkets across the city, with exclusive outlets for fish has had a damaging effect on the central market, with more number of citizens and expatriates now opting for outlets outside the central market, irrespective of the high prices.
The low prices in the central fish market are expected to continue until the end of the Eid holidays. The Peninsula
