| Marketing Fish in St. Thomas |
There is no "fish mongering in St. Thomas. Fish is generally sold directly by the
fisherman to the consumer. Some of these relationships have continued for
generations. When fishermen arrive back at the dock, they will sell a part of their
catch but most of it will be iced down for the Saturday market. Some fishermen
have developed restaurant customers but most sells at the market.
On Saturdays, fishermen go to the five main sites around the island, starting at 3
in the morning. By daybreak, much of the "prime" fish is already gone, sold to
buyers who range from little senior ladies who know each species and how to
cook it to visitors who come mainly to observe the rainbow of tropical varieties
on offer.
St. Thomas fishermen have chosen to continue this time consuming approach to
marketing as a cooperative which was organized in the 1970s to sell like they do it
in the States, failed when fishermen (perhaps missing the personal contact of the
old ways) went into competition with their own cooperative and resumed selling
direct.
fisherman to the consumer. Some of these relationships have continued for
generations. When fishermen arrive back at the dock, they will sell a part of their
catch but most of it will be iced down for the Saturday market. Some fishermen
have developed restaurant customers but most sells at the market.
On Saturdays, fishermen go to the five main sites around the island, starting at 3
in the morning. By daybreak, much of the "prime" fish is already gone, sold to
buyers who range from little senior ladies who know each species and how to
cook it to visitors who come mainly to observe the rainbow of tropical varieties
on offer.
St. Thomas fishermen have chosen to continue this time consuming approach to
marketing as a cooperative which was organized in the 1970s to sell like they do it
in the States, failed when fishermen (perhaps missing the personal contact of the
old ways) went into competition with their own cooperative and resumed selling
direct.