There was a slow start to the Lenten season for fish vendors in San Fernando and fishermen are warning that prices are likely to increase. Vendors at King's Wharf said the increase is mostly due to the scarcity of fish. One vendor, popularly known as "Bhagi", told the T&T Guardian: "The reason why there will be an increase is because fish goes into 'hiding' around this time of the year. "This means we have to go far and we have to use more gas. Another reason is that we have to deal with the oil and other pollution in the water. It's real pain for us."
Vendor Jaclyn Frazer said: "Sales so far have been moderate." She said the hardest fish to obtain was carite, one of the top sellers for Lent. The price of carite increased over the Carnival period from $20 to $25 a pound, while king fish went up from $30 to $35 a pound and shark from $10 to $15 a pound. Vendor Johnny Sookram is selling his shrimp at the same price as before Carnival, between $35 and $40 a pound, depending on the size. He said sales on some days were reasonable but other days are really slow.
"Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are my days for good sales," he said. The vendors said most of their fish come from Moruga and Erin and the increased prices were justified. "We hardly get to sleep. When people are home in their beds we are out there trying to get fish for them, so the prices are fair," "Bhagi" added.