Going, Going, Gone
Ahmed ShaabanAJMAN — The sonorous voice of Bu Obaid, as he is called, can be heard despite the cacophony of sounds in the Ajman Fish Market.
Salem Obaid Salem bin Hindi, grand fish auctioneer at the market, began his career 50 years ago, inheriting the job from his father and grandfather. “I have been in this work since my early childhood,” said Bu Obaid.
“I like it so much, and will never give it up until I die.”
The 65-year-old Emirati, in an interview with Khaleej Times, said though he was a coast guard, he could not resist his love for fish.
“I used to patrol the borders of the emirates of Ajman, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi for 24 hours during a shift and take 48 hours off. I dedicated all my time to fish auctioning after retiring in 1999.”
Before fish auctioning, Bu Obaid used to go pearl hunting off the shores of many countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
“It was (so) until the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan founded the UAE federation and brought travelling Emiratis back home, and gave them stable and high-paid jobs.”
Holding a megaphone and using his deep voice, Bu Obaid auctions the fish catch frequently brought to his plot of land which he rents from the municipality for Dh500 per month.
Looking after a 27-member family, including ten children, in a traditional house in Al Jarf area, Bu Obaid starts his day very early in the morning.
“I am in love with fish auctioning. I go to the market twice a day: from 6am to 10am, and from 4pm to 9pm.
“Though I go home everyday with fish and money, it is rather a hobby than a job to me. Why should I stay home idle?”
He collects up to Dh500 in commission per day, but he never asks for a certain fee.
“It is up to the seller to evaluate my effort in view of the amount of the fish auctioned and price drawn.
“A commission of Dh10 is to be paid against every auctioned Dh100 deal, as per the rules. However, I even accept Dh3 to Dh5 sometimes. It differs from one seller to another. It is more or less about their appreciation and generosity.” Fish auctioning, according to him, is an easy job that requires no special skill or long experience. “I only call bidders and loudly announce the price offered for nearly ten times for each lot.
“However, an auctioneer needs to properly evaluate the fish being sold in terms of kind and amount. He should also be strict, yet affable, to have good control over speedy auctions.”
The most expensive single catch he had auctioned off was a grouper (hammour) deal for about Dh6,000.
Bu Obaid said the fishes in demand here are rabbit (safi), grouper (hammour), king fish (kanad), jack pomfret (halwayu), mullet (ibyah), emperor (sherri) and crabs (kaburya).
“The most expensive of these is the safi, known as the food of the elite. One kilogram of that scale-less fish, which is rare, may cost up to Dh350. However, the price goes down to Dh15 per kilogram starting from December every year.”
The prices depend on the amounts of fish caught though the quantities brought to the market are nearly the same in the morning and evening shifts. “With 40 to 70 small boats carrying 70,000 to 120,000 fishes come to the market everyday.”
The global financial crisis has had a severe impact on fish markets, in terms of amounts and prices. “A fish catch that was sold against Dh3,000 to Dh4,000 is now worth Dh1,000 to Dh1,500 due to the meltdown,” he said.
“A fish trader may even make no profit against a deal of Dh10,000.”
Being a tolerant father, Bu Obaid never forces any of his children to join this career. “After having degrees, none of my ten children is interested in fish auctioning. They even prefer burger and hotdog to the fresh fish I bring everyday.”