Although the fish market has reopened, the Commerce Department, in conjunction with the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources has continued the “fresh fish open market”, where more local fishermen can sell a variety of fish species to the public on Saturdays.

“The fresh fish open market gives the opportunity to all our local fishermen to sell their catch to the public, who are very appreciative of this venue to check out a variety of fish species,” DOC fishery coordinator Tamatoa Tony Langkilde said Saturday during a Samoa News interview at the open market as a handful of local residents checked out the variety of fish and other seafood on sale.

Commerce director Keniseli Lafaele told Samoa News late last month, that as the fish market was closed, DOC and DMWR had collaborated in the past two and a half months to provide an open market — situating tents, steel tables and chairs in the parking lot of the Fagatogo Market place, and providing ice — on Saturdays.

Around 6a.m last Saturday, about eight local fishermen (not including their helpers) and at least three women were seen selling a wide range of variety of fish species as well as lobsters. And a local alia fisherman also had for sale a fresh huge, long sea eel.

Tamatoa, who is the acting fish market manager, said last Saturday was the 7th Saturday on which the open fresh fish market was set up and usually about 16 local fishermen are present to sell their catch. He says members of the public are happy they now have a place to visit to buy fresh fish.

“Saturdays are usually crowded with sellers and buyers” before Sunday, said Tamatoa who added the open fish market opens at 6a.m. and then at 12noon, it’s closed down and moved to the re-opened fish market, which is then open until 6p.m. or when all the fish are sold.

At the time Samoa News was present, Tamatoa said he hasn't yet seen any pelagic fish, which are tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo. “We have local fishermen who are pelagic fishermen and they are usually here early,” he said and pointed out that what was already at the open fish market, are alia fishermen, some spear fishermen and reef fishermen. “So we always have a variety of fishermen on Saturdays.”

As for last Saturday morning’s crowd of buyers, Tamatoa said, “It’s not as crowded as the previous Saturdays were, there are a lot of buyers as well as sellers.” He suspects that many people are attending the many events occurring that day — a high school football game at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, at least three separate fund raising events — including two radiothons, the Moso’oi cricket championship matches, which packed Fagaalu Park and of course campaigning island-wide before tomorrow’s general election.

As for the fish market, which was funded with the financial support of Honolulu-based Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, it was officially re-opened last week Wednesday, and the air conditioned facility provides room for six fishermen to sell their catches. It also has steel tables, walk-in freezer and cooler as well as cleaning tables and ice.

While it has been a slow three days since the fish market re-opened, Tamatoa encouraged local fishermen to utilize the facility. “The fish market is now available for our local fishermen and we encourage them to use it,” he said.

Two fishermen told Samoa News last Thursday that they preferred their current selling location — along the roadside — because of it’s easy access by buyers. They believe it’s difficult for buyers to turn into the fish market at the Fagatogo Market Place.

Lafaele said last week that local fishermen are welcome to sell their fish and other seafood at the fish market. And there is a nominal fee of 25 cents per pound that will be assessed to help pay for utilities and rent.

He explained that alia fishermen from Tutuila and Aunuu met two Fridays ago and agreed to supply the fish market as well as paying the fee of 25 cents per pound