Fifteen Dollars A Pound: “Gas High and Fish Not Biting”
Easter in Belize is a time-honored tradition, when fish takes center stage on Good Friday tables across the country. For fishermen and women, it is “Fisherman Christmas,” their busiest season of the year. But this Easter, high fuel prices and low catches are putting a damper on the Easter spirit. Shane Williams reports.
Shane Williams Reporting…
At fish markets across Belize City, the Easter trade is alive, with fishermen and vendors offering a range of fresh catch to meet the seasonal demand. Fisherwoman Nicolee Usher says despite the challenges, there is still something for everyone’s pocket.
Nicolee Usher, Fisherwoman
“The prices ah the fish right now da ten and twelve dollars a pound. And we also have five dollars for the people neh weh really can’t afford right now inna de ya hard times ya. We have barrows ya. We have groupers. Broke pot, dawg teeth snappers, kubali jacks and more snappers, yellow tail.”
Young fisherman Edmond Ford says the catch is there, but not in the quantities they would hope for during such a critical time.
Edmond Ford, Fisherman
“We got some jack, a lee snapper. Weh part fi we camp de da South, down da Bluefield. Anybody wa know the old reserve, Bluefield range. Da fi we area. We do two days. Barely get anything. Right now we only the sell for eight dollars. Jack da ten.”
For customers, the tradition remains unchanged. Good Friday means fish, and plenty of it.
Adreanna McClurg, Customer
“I the plan fi do wa lee fry fish.”
Shane Williams
“Weh you wa eat that with?”
Adreanna McClurg
“Maybe ah lea rice and beans with ah lee fresh salad. I don’t know. Maybe ah lee – I don’t know. Something I wa do with it. From small you done know that every good Friday you wa eat your lee fried fish yo ride in wa lee soup or something. That will always be the tradition.”
Others are opting for healthier or different preparations.
Barracks Customer
“We a season it up, black pepper, onion, sweet pepper, tomato, wrap ah in some banana leaf. Wrap ah in a foil, put ah in the oven and we good from there.”
Shane Williams
“How much people da size de wah feed?”
Barracks Customer
“That da only for two people. One side for one person and the next side for wifey. Finger licking.”
And before heading home, many stop by fish cleaners like Stephanie DeCosta, who says business is booming.
Stephanie DeCosta
“I the do this good while like five years and change now.”
Shane Williams
“How much yo charge fi scape a pound of fish?”
Stephanie DeCosta
“Well like when Lent and Easter time I charge two dollars. And otherwise during the time da dollar without Easter time.”
Shane Williams
“And yo the get lot of work during this time?”
Stephanie DeCosta
“And this da my Christmas for my family and I love it. Love it. Love it.”
But while customers prepare to keep tradition alive, fishermen say the cost of doing business is cutting deep into their earnings.
Edmond Ford, Fisherman
“Ih noh really the happen right now seka weh the gas gone up fada. Like we barely the mek anything when we catch wa lee bit ah thing like this with them couple days ya. Hand to mouth money we the look pan yo see.”
Veteran fisherman Joe Requena says even long trips offshore are not guaranteeing returns.
Joe Requena, Fisherman
“Right now I don’t even know if I clear my expense ’cause fish noh really the bite.”
Shane Williams
“What else the factor in? What else the affect the expense?”
Joe Requena
“Man, gas. Gas. Gas really high. That’s why the fish have to go so high. I don’t like it, but what else? Da only soh that we could make it. When I goh da Half Moon Caye I carry a drum ah gas – three ah them eighteen de and sometime ih neem enough. My expense da nine hundred dollars and I doubt I clear it.”
So, while fish remains a staple of Easter tradition in Belize, both fishermen and consumers are feeling the squeeze this year, one at sea and the other at the market. Still, come Good Friday, that tradition is expected to hold strong. Shane Williams for News Five.
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