Soumbédioune: thiof fish prices rise after a week of rough seas

The price of thiof (white grouper), a fish highly valued by Dakar households, has risen by about 15% at the Soumbédioune landing site over the past week, a direct consequence of rough seas that kept several pirogues from going out in recent days. A kilogram was trading this Monday morning at around 3,200 CFA francs, up from 2,800 the week before.

Fishmongers at the quay explain that several pirogues stayed docked late last week because of swells fishermen judged dangerous, reducing the supply reaching the market. Demand, meanwhile, remains stable or slightly up as several family ceremonies planned this month approach.

For households, the rise directly affects the food budget, with some customers turning to cheaper species such as sardinella or mackerel. Fishmongers hope for a return to normal as soon as sea conditions improve, which local weather forecasts suggest by the end of the week.

What the creator verified this Monday morning: prices posted at about ten stalls at the landing site, and the reduced number of pirogues that came in this weekend. What remains to be confirmed: whether the forecast drop in swell by the weekend will allow prices to quickly return to their usual level.