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International Journal of Oceanography & Aquaculture Research Article 12 min read

Fish Market and Marketing System in the Cuddalore District Chidambaram and Parangipettai Regions

Sinega S, Ann Suji PH and Deivasigamani B*
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2577-4050  10.23880/ijoac-16000249  Received: July 04, 2023  Published: August 04, 2023
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Keywords
Fish Production Fish Market Fishermen Dry Fish Species Aquaculture
Abstract

The fish production in the country in 2022 was 8.13 million tonnes, of which 4.2 million tonnes was contributed by the marine sector and the rest by inland sector. Fish and fish products accounted for approximately Rs.9,200 crore towards country’s exports, which constitutes 20% of the national agricultural exports. Marine fisheries sector forms the source of livelihood for over 7.5 million traditional fishermen inhabiting about 5,600 coastal fishing villages situated along the country’s coastal belt. It provides direct and indirect employment for several million people in fishing, processing, trading and ancillary activities. The present study aims to find out the marketing problems of fisherman in Chidambaram and Parangipettai Villages in the Cuddalore District. A large number of people are concerned with fish production, distribution and marketing systems in both the fish markets of the Cuddalore District, viz., the Chidambaram fish market and the Parangipettai fish market. The main aim of this study is to describe the present status of fish marketing system of fish and dry fish products. The description is based on primary data and secondary data collected in the different markets.

Introduction

A fish market is a marketplace for selling fish and fish products. It can be dedicated to wholesale trade between fishermen and fish merchants, or to the sale of seafood to individual consumers, or to both. Marketing of fish involves all the activities in the flow of fish or fish products from the farmer to the consumers. It includes various operations required to move the fish or fish products from the producer to the consumer [1, 2].

Fish production is an integral part of the marketing process as fish and fishery products are highly traded commodities. Fish market is such kind of place where people gather for selling and buying of fishes. Fish market is also be defined that a periodical gathering of people for buying and selling of fish or fisheries product. Fish marketing system is the system through which fishes reach to consumers from producers [2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Fish consumers are to depend on an effective fish marketing system. In India, fish marketing is almost exclusively a preserve of the private sector where the livelihoods of a large number of people are associated with fish production and marketing systems [9, 10]. However, the most serious marketing difficulties seem to occur in remote communities, with lack of transport, ice, and poor road facilities and where the farmers are in particularly weak position in relation to intermediaries [11]. Domestic markets and distribution of fish are dominated by a large number of intermediaries. All fish traded internally and for export pass through private channels. Fish distribution usually involves four levels such as the primary market, the secondary market, the higher secondary market. To develop fisheries sector, is important to know the fish marketing system. Without developing fish marketing system, the fish farming communities and fishermen will be unable to derive their benefit from aquaculture and open water fisheries [12, 13, 14]. Establishment of modern fish landing centre and retail markets near the fish landing port, introduction of government fish shops and insulated and refrigerated fish vans and fish carriers, training of all personnel related to fish marketing about fish handling, quality of fish, hygiene practices, improvement of existing fish market structure, provision for government and private funding assistance for fishers/fish farmer, formulation and enactment of independent act/ordinance for fish landing and marketing are highly recommended by Ali, et al. [15], the following are the goals of this investigation: To study the existing fish marketing systems in Chidambaram and Parangipettai fish market, to know pricing mechanism of fish at different levels and to identify marketing problems that have negative impacts on poor fishermen, traders and other associated groups and recommendation for improvement of the marketing system.

Materials and Method

Two fish markets of the Cuddalore district namely, the Chidambaram fish market and the Parangipettai fish markets were selected for the study. Data were collected from February 2023 to April 2023 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Chidambaram and Parangipettai fish market and its surrounding.
Click to enlarge
Figure 1: Chidambaram and Parangipettai fish market and its surrounding.

Selection of Target Group and Sample Size

The target groups were the fishermen who were involved in selling fish permanently (as the primary income source) and partially (as the secondary income source) for their livelihood. As Parangipettai market is a primary category market, 10 aratdars were selected from Chidambaram while 17 retailers were selected from both the fish markets.

Data Collection

Physical market visits and questionnaire -based interview methods were used for data collection. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Face to face interview was followed during data collection from aratdar and retailers. Various books, reports, journals, bulletins, thesis paper were also used as secondary sources for collecting data.

Data Analysis

The collected data were presented in textual, tabular and graphical form and analyze the data by using simple statistical tools such as mean and percentage using Microsoft excel 2007 (Table 1).

Survey AreaInformation Gathered
Eye to eye observation and Questionnaire surveyChidambram and Parangipettai fish market wholesale fish marketBuilding information, Fish shed, drainage condition, land use and environmental condition
FGD and KIIElectricity, ice and water supply, sanitation facility and infrastructural constraints.

Table 1: Data collection technique research tools for the study.

Data Processing and Analysis

After collection of data from the field, these were verified to eliminate errors and inconsistencies. Some of the collected data were in local units due to respondent’s familiarity with those units. Data of local units were converted into international units before transferring to the computer. Preliminary data sheets were compared with the original questionnaire and result sheets to ensure the accuracy of the data entry. Data were processed and finally analyzed using Microsoft Excel Software.

Results

The results of the present study are based on the data collected from two different markets, Chidambaram and Parangipettai of the Cuddalore District (Table 2).

S.noName of the marketDay of the market
1Chidambaram fish marketDaily
2Parangipettai fish marketDaily

Table 2: The following is the day- wise list of whole sale market and retail markets. Season and Time of Fish Trading Fishes are

Table 2: The following is the day- wise list of whole sale market and retail markets. Season and Time of Fish Trading Fishes are marketed year-round. But during rainy season, the availability of captured fishes is very high before winter and during winter the availability of cultured fish is higher than captured fish. It was found that the Chidambaram fish market activities ran from 7am to 6pm every day while the Parangipettai fish market activities ran from 7am to 6pm every day.

Quantity of Fish Sold

According to the study, it was found that daily supply of fishes in the Chidambaram fish market was approximately 1-2 tons, and that of the Parangipettai fish market is 40 kg per day.

Composition of Fishes in the Two Markets

According to the survey results, it was estimated that most of the fishes in these markets were Indian major carps and exotic carp. High quantities of other fishes such as Small Indigenous Species (SIS), catfishes, sardine, prawn, shrimp, tilapia, and other fish including marine are seen in the two markets. The market share of different fish species in the two markets are shown in Figure 2, Tables 3 and 4.

Figure 2: Chidambaram Fish, Parangipettai fish market.
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Figure 2: Chidambaram Fish, Parangipettai fish market.
S.NoFamilyLocal nameScientific namePrice of species (Rupees /Kg)
1MugilidaeMulletMugil cephalus200
2ClupeidaeSardineSardinella longiceps100
3ScombridaeMackeralRastrelliger kanagurta150-200
4CyprinidaeCarpCatla catla, labio rohitta,
Cirrhinus mrigala		130-150
5EmbiotocidaePink perchZalembius rosaceus200- 250
6AlbulidaeLady fishAlbula vulpes250
7BramidaePomfretBrama brama100-150
8GadidaeCodGadus morhua300
9ChannidaeMurrelChanna striata300-400
10IctaluridaeCat fishSiluriformes300
11EngraulidaeMalabar anchovyThryssa malabarica50
12SphyraenidaeBarracudaPerciformes150
13TrachipteridaeRibbon fishTrachipterus ishikawae100
14CichlidaeTilapiaOreochromis niloticus50-100
15ScombridaeSeer fishScomberomorus commerson700 – 800
16EngraulidaeAnchovyStolephorus indicus150- 200
17Oegopsina.SquidDecapodiformes300
18LutjanidaeRed snapperLutjanus campechanus300- 500
19AcanthuridaeUnicorn fishNaso brevirostris300
20LeiognathidaePony fishLeiognathus equulus50
21CarangidaeHorse mackeralTrachurus trachurus150 – 200
22MyliobatidaeRay fishBatoidea300-350
23SoleidaeSole fishSolea solea100-150
24SerranidaeSea bassCentropristis striata300-400
25GerreidaeSilver biddy fishGerres oyena50
26LatidaeBarramudiLates calcarifer150
27Cichlidaepearlspot cichlid,Etroplus suratensis100
28PenaeidaeWhite leg shrimpLitopenaeus vannamei300-350
Indian prawnFenneropenaeus indicus500
Caramote prawnMelicertus kerathurus500
Tiger shrimpPenaeus monodon500
29PolynemideaOotanEleutheronema tetradactylum100
30RegalecidaeOar fishRegalecus glesne80-100
31PleuronectidaeFlat fishHippoglossuss tenolepis100-150
32SparrideaSudanLeptobarbus hoevenii80- 100
33CarangideaMalabar trevallyCarangidea malabaricus100
34MalacostracaBlue swimming crabPortunus pelagicus250
35BeloonideaGar fishBelone belone100
36ScombrideaTittle tunnyEuthynnus, alletteratus50-100

Table 3: Family, local name, scientific name of species recorded in both markets during the study period.

OrderSpeciesPrice (Rs)
1.ClupeiformesSardine100-120
2.LampriformesRibbon fish200
3.GonorynchiformesMilk fish150
4.SiluriformesCat fish50
5.PerciformesPony fish50-70
6.PerciformesTilapia50
7.PerciformesMackeral150-200
8.CypriniformesCarp150-200
9.DecopodaPrawn350
10.PerciformesJew fish150
11.DecopodaTiger shrimp500
11.DecopodaWhite leg shrimp500
12.PerciformesRed snapper350-500
13.PerciformesCod250-300
14.MugiliformesMullet200
15.CypriniformesSudan100
16.ClupeiformesLlish100-150
17.CypriniformesSquid150
18.DecopodaCrab300
19.PerciformesRabbit fish150
20.ElopiformesLady fish200
21.PleuronectiformesSole fish150
22.CarangideaMalabar trevally50-70
23.ScombrideaBluefin150
24.ScombrideaLittle tunny50-100
25.ScombriformesSeer fish800-900

Table 4: Price of Parangipettai fish market.

Women Involvement

Women are involved in many fishery activities such as aquaculture, fishing, and capture. Mostly fisherwomen are observed selling fish and shrimps in both the markets

Figure 3: Fisher Women who are Involved in Selling Fish.
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Figure 3: Fisher Women who are Involved in Selling Fish.
Figure 4: Squid.
Click to enlarge
Figure 4: Squid.

(Chidambaram and Parangipettai). They are engaged in selling fish signifying their major role in marketing (Figures 3-32).

Figure 5: Cod.
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Figure 5: Cod.
Figure 6: Sardine.
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Figure 6: Sardine.
Figure 7: Murrel.
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Figure 7: Murrel.
Figure 8: Ray Fish.
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Figure 8: Ray Fish.
Figure 9: Mullet.
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Figure 9: Mullet.
Figure 10: Seer Fish.
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Figure 10: Seer Fish.
Figure 11: Barracuda.
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Figure 11: Barracuda.
Figure 12: Murrel.
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Figure 12: Murrel.
Figure 13: Cultured Pomfret.
Click to enlarge
Figure 13: Cultured Pomfret.
Figure 14: Wild Pomfret.
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Figure 14: Wild Pomfret.
Figure 15: Red Snapper.
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Figure 15: Red Snapper.
Figure 16: Mullet.
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Figure 16: Mullet.
Figure 17: Ribbon Fish.
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Figure 17: Ribbon Fish.
Figure 18: Carp.
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Figure 18: Carp.
Figure 19: Cat Fish.
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Figure 19: Cat Fish.
Figure 20: Pink Perch.
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Figure 20: Pink Perch.
Figure 21: Sea Bass.
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Figure 21: Sea Bass.
Figure 22: Pomfret.
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Figure 22: Pomfret.
Figure 23: Red Snapper.
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Figure 23: Red Snapper.
Figure 24: White Leg Shrimp.
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Figure 24: White Leg Shrimp.
Figure 25: Tiger Shrimp.
Click to enlarge
Figure 25: Tiger Shrimp.
Figure 26: Anchovy.
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Figure 26: Anchovy.
Figure 27: Caramote Prawn.
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Figure 27: Caramote Prawn.
Figure 28: Lady Fish.
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Figure 28: Lady Fish.
Figure 29: Crab.
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Figure 29: Crab.
Figure 30: processing of fish.
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Figure 30: processing of fish.
Figure 31: Mud Crab.
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Figure 31: Mud Crab.

Dry Fish Species

Different types of fish found in these fish markets are salted and dried to prepare dry fishes. Freshwater (inland and brackish) and marine water species were dried (Figure 33) and (Table 5).

Figure 32: Ice Freezing of Fish.
Click to enlarge
Figure 32: Ice Freezing of Fish.
S. NoLocal nameScientific nameFamilyPrice
1.ClupeidaeSardineSardinella longiceps(50) -100 Rs
2.EngraulidaeAnchovyStolephorus indicus200-250 Rs
3.GadidaeCodGadus morhua200 Rs
4.ClupeidaeCat fishSardinella longiceps100 Rs
5.MugilidaeMulletMugil cephalus100 Rs
6.TrachipteridaeRibbon fishTrachipteru sishikawae150 Rs
7.BramidaePomfretBrama brama100 Rs
8.LeiognathidaePony fishLeiognathus equulus70 Rs
9.LutjanidaeRed snapperLutjanus campechanus200Rs
10.CyprinidaeCarpLaeo rohita200 Rs
11.CichlidaeTilapiaOreochromis niloticus100Rs
12.ScombridaeMackeralRastrelliger kanagurta150 Rs
13.SparrideaSudanLeptobarbus hoevenii100 Rs
14.-Dried shrimp-50 Rs
15.-Dry prawn-200 Rs

Table 5: Dry fish family, local name and scientific name.

Price of Fish

The price of fish varied considerable depending upon the freshness, availability, season, size, species and quality of the specimen being sold. Alam Md, et al. [16] reported that market structure, species quality, size and weight influence the price of fish. In two markets of Chidambaram and Parangipettai fish market, pricing policy is not fixed by the government and trade association. The price of fish was usually set through open auction and bidding bargain between wholesalers and retailers. According to policy of auction system, the price for an allotment of fish was settled firmly through open, competitive bidding. The highest bidder takes prompt delivery of the commodity in exchange of cash payment. Generally, bidding was announced loudly by auctioneer in front of retailers. Auctioneer usually charges about 2-3% commission of the sale price from wholesalers. Different kind of fishes like shrimp, prawn, crab, seer fish etc. were also sold in these markets. These kinds of fishes also have good economic importance. Among them seer fish (<25cm) average price was 400 TK./kg and the big size(26- 40cm) was about 700 -800TK./kg. and the lowest for pony fish (TK. 50 per kg).

Profit Margin

In the present study it is found that the primary producers barely get 45-50% of the retail market prices for their products. Middlemen get 35-40% of the retail market prices. The cost of transportation, preservation and tools paid to leaseholders determine how much share of the retail market prices get fishermen/farmers. The quality/weight loss of 5-10% and the remaining 15-20% was spent for transportation, preservation and other charges.

Income of Wholesalers and Retailers

The result of the study showed that average daily income of wholesaler in Chidambaram fish market was TK.700, while in Parangipettai fish market at TK. 500. Wholesalers engage themselves a short period (3 to 5 hours) for fish selling as middlemen and earn a considerable amount of money in comparison with retailers. The average gross profit of the retailers of the Chidambaram fish market was estimated to be 500 TK./day and Parangipettai fish market about 300TK./ day. It is true that the wholesalers are influential persons in the fish markets and they have a strong relationship with other intermediaries.

Constraints Present

A number of constraints for fish marketing were reported by the retailers. The constraints were lack of storage facilities, poor supply of ice, exploitation by middlemen, lack of money and lack of infrastructure. On the basis of findings of the study the following recommendations have been made for the improvement of existing marketing of fishes:

  • Introduction of modern wholesaling and retailing facilities with maintaining the quality of products;
  • Introduction of fish quality control measures
  • Establishment of ice factories in every fish market area
  • An efficient market developing system should be developed
  • Improvements of hygienic and sanitary facilities of fish trading centers and fish markets
  • Provision of governmental, institutional and banking assistance
  • Training of fish market operators on fish preservation, handling, icing, curing and hygiene
  • Institutional credit can be provided on easy term for the retailers at their crisis moment.

Conclusion

A large number of people are concerned with fish production, distribution and marketing systems in both the fish markets of the Cuddalore District. The main aim of this study is to describe the present status of fish marketing system of fish and dry fish products. The description is based on primary data and secondary data collected in the different markets. The following is the summary of the present study:

  • Fishes are marketed year-round in both markets.
  • It was found that the Chidambaram fish market activities ran from 7am to 6pm every day while the Parangipettai

fish market activities ran from 7am to 6pm every day.

  • The daily supply of fishes in the Chidambaram fish market was approximately 1-2 tons, and that of the Parangipettai fish market is 40 kg per day.
  • High quantities of other fishes such as Small Indigenous Species (SIS), catfishes, sardine, prawn, shrimp, tilapia, and other fish including marine are seen in the two markets.
  • Mostly fisherwomen are observed selling fish and shrimps in both the markets (Chidambaram and Parangipettai).
  • They are engaged in selling fish signifying their major role in marketing.
  • Different types of fish found in these fish markets are salted and dried to prepare dry fishes.
  • The price of fish varied considerable depending upon the freshness, availability, season, size, species and quality of the specimen being sold.
  • In the present study it is found that the primary producers barely get 45-50% of the retail market prices for their products.
  • Middlemen get 35-40% of the retail market prices.
  • The cost of transportation, preservation and tools paid to leaseholders determine how much share of the retail market prices get fishermen/farmers.
  • The average gross profit of the retailers of the Chidambaram fish market was estimated to be 500 TK./ day and Parangipettai fish market about 300TK./day.
  • A number of constraints for fish marketing were reported by the retailers. The constraints were lack of storage facilities, poor supply of ice, exploitation by middlemen, lack of money and lack of infrastructure.
  • Recommendation has also been made for the improvement of existing marketing system.

References

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@article{sinega2023,
  title   = {Fish Market and Marketing System in the Cuddalore District Chidambaram and Parangipettai Regions},
  author  = {Sinega S, Ann Suji PH and Deivasigamani B},
  journal = {International Journal of Oceanography & Aquaculture},
  year    = {2023},
  volume  = {7},
  number  = {3},
  doi     = {10.23880/ijoac-16000249}
}
Sinega S, Ann Suji PH and Deivasigamani B (2023). Fish Market and Marketing System in the Cuddalore District Chidambaram and Parangipettai Regions. International Journal of Oceanography & Aquaculture, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.23880/ijoac-16000249
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Fish Market and Marketing System in the Cuddalore District Chidambaram and Parangipettai Regions
AU  - Sinega S, Ann Suji PH and Deivasigamani B
JO  - International Journal of Oceanography & Aquaculture
PY  - 2023
VL  - 7
IS  - 3
DO  - 10.23880/ijoac-16000249
ER  -