WITH domestic catches having decreased by 40 per cent, it is least surprising that the smuggling of high-valued fish has also almost ceased. It is illogical that prices would decline by 50 per cent as such a decline will badly reflect on exports and will result in a loss of valuable foreign exchange.

At the same, this lowering of fish prices is not seen in the local market which proves that the situation is not as prospective as reported by the fisheries association.

All the low - priced fish which were once regarded as almost ‘junk fish’ and ended up becoming fish meal are certainly of little interest to Iran.

Iran wanted our tuna, the ‘beefsteak of the sea’ but due to seasonal factors and depletion of fishery stocks the smuggling of the same has come to a halt by default.

Fish such as ribbon fish, Indian mackerel and small species of sea breams and croakers are demanded by the Far East and farther Southeast Asia.

The prices of such fish are quite low and do not affect the demand of the domestic market.

Most large fish such as marine mackerel, tuna, sharks, dogfish, croakers, eels and catfish and fresh water-farmed fish find their way to most of the fish eateries in the country which mostly sell them as fried fish. Pomfret, red snapper and sea bass (gisser) are a delicacy among the Arabs or the local rich.

MAZHAR BUTT Karachi