THERE will be a shortage of seafood during Chinese New Year following the unpredictable weather pattern that has forced fishermen to stay away, associations warned today.

They said that the erratic weather pattern has reduced the number of times the fishermen go out to sea, which means fewer catch for them, and higher price to pay for consumers.

They said that with this trend continuing, it was best for consumers, especially the Chinese who rely on seafood for Chinese New Year celebration, to start stocking up.

Chinese New Year is set to fall on January 22 next year while the monsoon season will start in mid-November.

Sekinchan Fishermen and Fish Traders Welfare Association Chia Choon Theng was reported as saying in The Star that the erratic weather has caused deep sea trawlers to reduce their trips out to sea from weekly to once every two weeks, or just once a month.

He said that there is one particular fish – the Chinese Pomfret – that may become scarcer during Chinese New Year.

Others also said it was already difficult to find this fish now.

Penang fishmonger Oh Puey Ping was reported as saying that the Chinese Pomfrets are caught during the fast-flowing currents of spring tides, around the first and 15th of every lunar month.

That leaves fishermen with no more than six possible trips left before Chinese New Year, weather permitting.

“The small ones can go for RM60 per kg now and (fish that are above) 600g (can sell for) about RM80 per kg.

“During Chinese New Year, it can go up to between RM100 and RM150 per kg in some places,” she was quoted as saying.

Penang’s Seberang Perai Fishermen Association chairman Mahadi Md Rodzi also was reported as saying that Chinese Pomfrets would be difficult to be found in the markets now.

“Many fishermen have contracts with restaurants, which means if we catch them, they go to the restaurants first.

“You need a different net for pomfrets. They are not easy to catch and you have to wait a long time after setting out the nets,” he was quoted as saying.

A similar warning was also issued by Pahang Deep Sea Fishermen Association chairman Mohd Yusery Mohd Yusoff.

“The weather is unstable right now, so anyone wanting their favourite festive dishes should start stocking up now,” he said, adding that seafood prices will shoot up. – October 31, 2022.