BUKIT MERTAJAM: Large and jumbo prawns are in short supply ahead of Chinese New Year, with many traders already running out of stock.
Most market trays now display farmed varieties, mainly vannamei and tiger prawns, while the limited sea catch consists largely of medium and small prawns.
As demand surges for reunion dinner on Monday, traders who still have large prawns are raising prices by between RM20 and RM30 per kg.
Trader Jayson Wong, 38, said supplies have slowed significantly since the end of December, with only small quantities of mid-sized prawns arriving.
“The week before Chinese New Year is usually peak season for large prawns. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage, and we have almost nothing to sell.
“In January, I received less than 100kg of large prawns that were priced between RM80 and RM90 per kg.
“Now, those who still have stock are pushing prices up to RM110 per kg,” he said at the Bukit Mertajam wet market yesterday.
Jayson said catches have been poor since January due to hot and windy weather, prompting some fishermen to stop going out to sea.
“Many landed only small catches, which were snapped up immediately. With disappointing results, some fishermen have decided not to head out, so very little new stock is coming in,” he added.
Another trader, who wished to be identified only as Wong, 58, said he had switched to farmed prawns after exhausting his supply of sea-caught stock.
“My prawns are farmed in Thailand. If customers want big prawns, these are the only ones available.
“Local fishermen are mostly bringing in medium and small prawns suitable for daily consumption.
“We sell whatever they land, and there are simply no large sea prawns left,” he said.
Wong’s farmed prawns from Thailand are priced between RM26 and RM30 per kg depending on size.
Penang Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director S. Jegan said medium-sized white prawns – numbering between 41 and 60 per kg – are under price control, with a ceiling price of RM34 per kg at wholesale level and RM39 per kg at retail.
He urged consumers to use the ministry’s Price Catcher app to check daily prices of essential goods.
“The app shows the lowest prices within a 10km radius. Choose outlets with available stock at the best price.
“Those who feel prices are excessive or unreasonable can lodge complaints through the app,” he said after inspecting festive items and launching the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme at a supermarket in Kota Permai here yesterday.
Under the scheme, 16 items have been gazetted as controlled goods for the Chinese New Year from Feb 13 to 21.
The items are white pomfret (200g-400g per fish), white prawns (41-60 per kg), large yellow and red onions, short mustard greens (Japanese mustard), red chillies, white radish, as well as imported old ginger, chicken wings, live pigs at farm level, pork belly, pork meat and fat.
Also on the list are garlic, carrots and potatoes from China, as well as round cabbage from Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing.
Jegan said 137 enforcement officers and 57 price monitoring officers have been deployed statewide at markets and shopping centres to curb profiteering during the festive season.
Since January, the ministry has inspected 10,555 premises across Penang and taken action in 171 cases involving various offences, with seizures amounting to RM857,796 and compounds totalling RM36,500 imposed so far.
