Recent severe weather conditions in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia have caused fish prices to skyrocket by up to 30%, as reported by local fishers and market insiders.

Heavy rainfall in the Eastern Province led to the suspension of in-person classes last week, impacting the availability and pricing of fish in local markets. Fisher Mohammed Al Murkhan, a member of the agriculture and food committee at the Eastern Province’s Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the challenges faced by fishers due to strong winds, which deterred them from venturing deep into the sea for safety reasons.

Al Murkhan explained that many fishing boats ceased operations during the Eid Al Fitr festival and extended their pause due to adverse weather forecasts. Despite some boats resuming operations, their catch was insufficient to meet market demands, exacerbating the scarcity and driving prices upward.

Echoing this sentiment, fish vendor Fadel Al Qalaf emphasized the dwindling supply of fish in the market, leading to price hikes attributed to erratic weather patterns.

The Eastern Province experienced medium-to-torrential rains, accompanied by strong winds, poor visibility, hail showers, thunderbolts, and flooding. Authorities took precautionary measures, such as closing vital tunnels on King Fahd Road in Dammam, which later reopened after safety assessments.

Hussain Al Qahtani, spokesperson for the Saudi National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), warned of further rainfall in affected areas until the end of April, advising the public to stay vigilant and monitor NCM reports for weather updates.