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Fish prices double in Al Ain

AL AIN — The prices of fish have more than doubled in Al Ain over the past one week.

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Ahmed Amir, a resident here, said the price of 1kg of Sherry jumped to Dh80 from the last week's price of Dh30. Similarly, 1kg of Hammour fish costs Dh100 in place of Dh55 one week back.

He said the prices vary in the mornings and evening in the Al Ain market. This is despite the officials' announcement on different occasions that they will put an end to the exploitation by the traders, he added.

The price of Kanaad variety has gone up from Dh35 to Dh75 suddenly, said Um Saeed, a housewife.

The UAE is located near to the the Gulf waters where fish is abundantly available and there is no excuse for the high prices of fish, she said.

“The traders forget that many of the families have only low incomes," she complained.

Moza Al Motawa'a, an Emirati housewife, said fish is a favourite food of many nationals as it is healthy with its light meat and low calories. Several sellers exploit the customers by raising the fish prices depending on the demand for the variety.

Another housewife, Asia Jamy, said although the fish market in Al Ain has seen a hike in the prices, the fishes sold in the market are still cheaper than in the supermarkets and hypermarkets.

She appealed to the municipal officials to control the prices of foodstuffs.

A fish seller, Saeed, said the prices are not fixed; the sellers decide among themselves.

An official from the Customers Protection Department of the Ministry of Economic and Planning told Khaleej Times that the UAE has an open economy. "When the demand increases for a particular item, its price goes up," he said.

Due to the high temperatures in summer, the fishes go deeper in the sea, causing a scarcity in the catch, he added.

• UAE