This Easter’s fish market has been left reeling as fisherfolk face dwindling catches, storm-damaged boats, and environmental challenges, leading to a sharp decline in fresh fish supplies during one of the year’s busiest seasons, Barbados TODAY has learned.Barbadian meals, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, are steeped in cultural custom, often centred around catches of flying fish, dolphin (mahi mahi), and primarily reef-dwelling potfish. Yet this year, supply chains have collapsed under the weight of environmental disruption. Several months after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region, vendors are still dealing with the storm’s lingering impact. Damaged boats, silted landing sites, and unpredictable marine conditions have all contributed to the season’s downturn. Fisherfolk reported dramatically reduced catches, an inability to meet demand, and economic hardship during what should be one of the most profitable periods of the year. Heavy rainfall, persistent rough seas, and unpredictable winds have kept many vessels docked, fisherfolk told Barbados TODAY. Chief Fisheries Officer Shelly-Ann Cox also cited widespread sargassum seaweed blooms — which have plagued the island’s eastern and southern coasts since 2011 — as a significant factor in declining yields. “This season has been very, very poor,” said Jean Millington, a long-standing vendor at the Berinda Cox Fish Market in Oistins. “We’re not getting any fish — none of the boats bringing in marlin, barely any dolphin, and the flying fish we do get are expensive.” With fewer fresh catches available, Millington, like many others in the market, has had to rely on processors to source frozen fish. “We’re buying 100 flying fish for $275 and selling what we can — there’s not much else to do,” she added. Compared to previous years, she estimates her sales are down by about 20 per cent. Joshua Greene, another vendor who typically sells a wide range of seafood, said business has dropped even more sharply. “It’s been slow because there’s not a lot of boats out,” he said. “Right now, the wind is strong too, so the divers are not going out. You’re not really seeing seacat, turpits, snappers — none of the fish people normally look for this time of year.” Greene estimates a 50 to 60 per cent fall in turnover compared to previous years. “It’s not like before,” he said. “There isn’t much foot traffic in the market and not as many boats coming in. It’s first come, first served — if you’re not here when the boats land, you miss out.”