KUALA LUMPUR: The rough seas and weather due to the northeast monsoon have affected the number of fish landings and led to price hikes in fish sales.
The Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) said the monsoon phenomenon, which occurs between November to March annually, has also made fishing activities, especially at seas, difficult.
The board said Kedah LKIM had reported that the number of fish landings had decreased from 3.26 million kg (worth RM11.8 million) in November to 3.1 million kg (worth RM11.44 million) in December last year.
"Kedah LKIM had also conducted a price survey and reported that the average price of fish sold at retail throughout the state has increased throughout the monsoon season.
"However, the price was increased slightly and on selected fish species only," LKIM said in a statement to BH recently.
The board was responding to BH's news report titled 'Harga Ikan Naik Tiga Kali Ganda' published on Jan 3.
LKIM said the selected fish species affected by the price hike include pelaling fish, which is now sold at RM9.20 per kg compared to RM8.20 as well as kembong fish sold at RM16.30 compared to RM12.80, previously.
"The price of selected fish species will increase if there is a high demand and this is in line with marketing theories.
"For example, the prices of ikan kembung (Indian Mackeral) is sold between RM13 to RM17 per kg is normal during the Northeast Monsoon season.
"However, there were other fish species that records average price decrease such as cencaru (from RM9.70 to RM8.50), selar (from RM14.70 to RM13.50) and selayang (from RM9.70 to RM8.60)," said the statement.
It said that fish prices were expected to stabilise after the Northeast Monsoon season ends sometime in late January.
LKIM said it had taken a proactive measure by providing a cold room to enable surplus fishes supplies captured during the normal season to be stored frozen.
"The frozen fish in store will be taken out from the room when required, or when the supplies are not enough especially during monsoon seasons," said the statement.
LKIM also said that these efforts will be run continuously to ensure adequate fish supplies throughout the year, as well as a measure to stabilise fish prices during the monsoon season.
"LKIM is also collaborating with National Fishermen Association (Nekmat) and Kedah Fishermen Association (Nekad) to sell frozen fish online such as through Facebook, Whatsapp, Grab and Shopee.
"Consumers can get a supply of QFish fresh frozen fish at a fixed price of RM10 per kg. The fish available include selar, selayang, pelaling and tongkol among others.
"This collaboration also includes the sales of fish on nekmatbiz.com.my website to make it easier for the consumers," said the statement.
Nekmat chairman Abdul Hamid Bahari said the association expected fish prices sold at the local market would normalise within the next two weeks.
He was reported saying on Wednesday (Jan 5) that the increase in fish prices was due to unpredictable weather that hindered fishermen from going to sea.
He was also reported agreeing that the current monsoon situation had affected the number of fresh fish landings, compared to the high fish demands that indirectly contribute to the price increase.