Imagine this: both of us set sail on the same fishing boat, heading into the same stretch of sea at the same time. We share the same weather, the same distance, the same effort, and return to the same shore.
I haul in 50 kg of sardines. You bring back 50 kg of
mackerel. Both are fresh, edible, and have a strong demand in the domestic
market.
But here comes the twist — back at the shore, our
catch is priced differently.
Why?
The sea didn't discriminate. The time, energy, and
risks we took were identical. But the moment we landed, the market started
speaking a different language — the language of perceived value.
Who fixes the price?
In most coastal fish landing centres in India,
there is no fixed authority controlling fish prices. Instead, prices are
determined through a mix of open bidding, auctioneers, and the tug-of-war
between supply and demand. Middlemen, wholesalers, and exporters gather at the
shore, inspecting the catch, calculating the going market rates, and placing
their bids.
This live, competitive process quickly translates
into the price tag your fish gets.
What are the yardsticks?
Several invisible but powerful yardsticks influence
this price difference:
- Consumer
Demand: Mackerel (Ayala) might be more in demand today — maybe it's a
preferred choice in hotels, or there’s an export consignment waiting.
- Supply
Level: If dozens of boats came back with sardines that morning, the market
is flooded. Even a good catch earns less due to oversupply.
- Export
Potential: Mackerel often has a better market abroad. Exporters are
willing to pay more for fish that fetch higher prices internationally.
- Perishability:
Sardines spoil quickly. Buyers take that into account while quoting prices.
- Fish
Size & Appearance: Larger fish, shinier scales, and a firmer body?
Better price. It’s visual economics at play.
- Cultural
Preference: In Kerala, for instance, some regions have a cultural
preference for mackerel. That can skew prices based on local food habits.
Same effort, different reward —
is it fair?
It feels unfair at first. We both sweated equally.
But markets don’t reward effort — they reward value as the end consumer perceives.
This is not unique to fishing. Think of farmers: One harvests rice, another grows saffron. Both face the sun, rain, and toil in their fields, but the market value of their crop yield is vastly different.
Field produce like rice or wheat may fetch only a modest price per kilogram,
while niche agro-products like cardamom or vanilla command a premium.
It’s not just about effort — it’s about what the
market values.
The bigger reflection
This little tale from the seashore teaches us
something about life:
“It’s not always the journey that sets the price,
but the story the product tells — its demand, uniqueness, and the value others
place on it.”
In your work, your creativity, your time — learn to
ask not just how much you’ve done, but how much your output is worth
to others. Effort matters, but perceived value defines your price.
And sometimes, the difference between sardine and
mackerel is just… perception.
