Southern fish prices flounder
Southern fish prices flounder
The price of Mekong River fish in the south has fallen this month with seasonal increased supply, according to traders in Champassak province.
One local vendor at Dao Heuang Market in the province's Pakxe district, Ms Aon said the price for various varieties of Mekong fish has fall around 10,000-15,000 kip per kilogramme compared to three months ago.
For example, the price of Phia fish (gray guppy) now is 30,000 kip per kg compared to 45,000 kip last month.
Pakxe market is a large market and the traders have been receiving good quantities of fish from several areas such as Khong Island and Champassak district.
A local fisher, Mr Viengxay has witnessed the price for his catch has fallen since last month with fish in abundance.
This month he caught more than 600-700 kg per day compared to 400-500 kg two months ago, he said.
However, the overall number of fish caught this year was slightly down compared to two years ago as local Khong district authorities had destroyed fish traps in a bid to promote sustainable fishing, he explained.
Over the next three months fish catches increase during the rainy season for those making a living from the Mekong River, and as supply goes up prices decrease slightly.
Nevertheless, Mr Viengxay believed that fish prices would move upward again by September.
An official who works in fish conservation at Khong District said many fish were caught upstream in May and June as they migrated through Xang Pheuak and Sadam Channels.
He said the large quantity of fish had driven down prices this season allowing consumers across the country to enjoy the Mekong catch.
