Eid al-Fitr Sees Fresh Seawater Fish Prices Soar in Aceh

Since the start of Eid al-Fitr over the past week, prices of fresh seawater fish in Aceh Province have become expensive. This is because many local fishermen have yet to resume their activities at sea. Naturally, some of them are still celebrating Eid by visiting family or travelling far with relatives, resulting in limited production of fresh seawater fish and shortages in market stocks. Observations by Media Indonesia at the Pante Teungoh wholesale fish market in Sigli, the capital of Pidie Regency, for example, show that the price of mackerel has risen from Rp30,000 per kilogram before Eid to Rp40,000 per kilogram since the start of Eid 2026. Similarly, Indian mackerel has increased from Rp35,000 per kilogram to Rp45,000 per kilogram. The price of milkfish has gone from Rp35,000 per kilogram to Rp45,000 per kilogram, while skipjack tuna has risen from Rp30,000 per kilogram to Rp40,000 per kilogram. “Fishermen have not yet gone out to sea in large numbers, so the supply of fresh fish is still low. Therefore, prices are higher,” said Muslim, a retail fish trader at the Pante Teungoh Fish Market in Sigli, Pidie. Muslim explained that traditional fishermen operating in the Malacca Strait waters are expected to become active again next week, coinciding with the end of Eid celebrations and the tradition of visiting family or relatives. “Now schools are still on holiday, many people are visiting distant family members, bringing along their families and children. Next week, once schools reopen, everyone will resume normal activities.” Media Indonesia notes that there are two main fishing areas for Aceh’s fishermen: those in the western region fish in the Indian Ocean, while those in the northern and eastern regions operate in the Malacca Strait. Every Eid season in Aceh follows a longstanding tradition where residents visit parents, siblings, and relatives. Likewise, fishermen adhere to local wisdom that prohibits going to sea during the first three days of Eid. Prices of various types of fish in Aceh Province have remained high for about the last two months. Adverse weather halting fishermen’s activities has affected fresh fish prices in Aceh, causing all types of seawater fish prices to climb. At the Ujoeng Pi fish landing site on the coast in Laweueng, Muara Tiga Subdistrict, Pidie Regency, for instance, dozens of motorised boats owned by local fishermen have ceased operations.