DOHA: A group of residents has launched a campaign through the social media networks to pressure traders to bring down skyrocketing prices of fish in the local market.
The campaigners urged people not to buy fish and other seafood products for two days (yesterday and today). They are using the social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Arabic Qatar Shares to vent their anger at the exorbitant prices and spread their message to the maximum number of people.
Many residents believe that the sudden rise in the prices of fish and other seafood products is not normal at this time when there is enough supply in the market.
A few others are even more agitated with the price rise and expressed their ire over Qatar Shares.
“Why only two days? Why not one month? Let’s not eat fish in the restaurant!” said one comment.
Another said that if consumers stop buying fish, this will not affect the traders since hotels and restaurants will buy it anyway.
Another commentator, however, was more sober in saying that prices depends on supply and demand not a matter of simply raising the prices. “Let’s make it fair, let’s stop exporting fish.”
Yet another also commented that since the Consumer Protection Department has not been doing anything about it, then “let’s take action by not buying fish for two days because this will benefit the consumers in the end.”
According to consumers, prices of some fish has gone up citing Hamour now sold at QR65 a kilo; Alsafe at QR40 a kilo; Kadan at QR50 per kg; Rabeeb at QR30 per kg; Saudi Rubyan (prawn) at QR30 per kg and Pakistani Rubyan at QR35 per kg for small and QR80 per kg for large.
The concerned citizens earlier blamed agents and retailers in the central fish market for their unholy nexus causing the prices to skyrocket. While calling for strict government monitoring on the market, they said that the Qatari boat owners, fishermen and the consumers have become the victims, with the traders and vendors making exorbitant profits.
They said never in the recent past, the market has witnessed such a consistent rise in the prices. All popular varieties of fish have been sold at prices ranging from QR30 to QR60 per kg.
The Peninsula
