A day in the life of Salem Al Balushi, Fujairah's fish auctioneer

Fujairah: The boxes loaded with fish arrive on the fishermen’s vehicles at the Fujairah fish market. As soon as they are placed in front of the vendors, an alert sounds from the loudspeaker carried by Emirati Salem Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Balushi, 60, signalling the opening of the auction. Buyers gather around him, and bidding begins for the fresh fish coming from the sea, while Al Balushi estimates the starting price, before the competitors’ offers gradually raise it. In detail, Al Balushi said that he has been working as a broker in the Fujairah fish market for more than 17 years, but his relationship with the brokerage profession began when he was young, when he used to watch the late Emirati broker Abdullah bin Suleiman, and sit near him to learn the basics and details of the profession, before working with him later, and gaining experience in the market over the years, until he became in charge of opening the daily auction in the Fujairah fish market. He explained that the broker's experience in the market enables him to estimate the value of the fish on offer and determine the appropriate price to start the bidding. If he estimates, for example, that the value of a quantity of fish reaches about Dh1,000, he may open the auction for it at Dh700, and then let the price gradually increase with the bids of the sellers until it is settled. Al Balushi begins his day after the dawn prayer, preparing a pot of coffee before heading to the market. He starts his morning by sitting with his old fishermen friends and exchanging conversations with them before the buying and selling activity and auctions begin. He continues his work until the market closes at noon, then returns in the afternoon to start a new work period that extends until 10pm, in a daily routine that has caused him to become well-known among the fishermen, sellers and shoppers. They, in turn, know his voice and his way of managing the auction. He explained that the method of selling does not follow a single pattern, but rather varies according to the type of fish, its quantities, its availability, and the demand for it, as some types are sold by the piece, and others by the kilo, while prices are affected by several factors, including weather conditions, summer and winter seasons, and the quantities of fish that reach the market. Al Balushi said that he has been working as a broker in the Fujairah fish market for more than 17 years, and his training in the profession began when he was young. Picture credit: Yamani Al Afari He added that the value of sales also varies greatly depending on the quantities caught, sometimes reaching about Dh50,000, while at other times it may not exceed Dh5,000, noting that the quantities brought in by the fishermen determine the size of the supply and the sales activity in the market. Al Balushi describes the Fujairah fish market as being distinguished by the arrival of fresh fish directly from the sea, some of which arrive live. He emphasises that young fishermen go out daily and supply the market with their catch, which makes different types of fish available throughout the day, so that even the type that a shopper might not find in the morning can be found when he returns in the evening. According to Al Balushi, kingfish tops the list of requests from the people of the region, but the market's customers are not limited to the residents of Fujairah, as buyers from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates come to buy quantities of fish, and some of them may spend about Dh3,000 in one visit. In addition, restaurants buy as per their needs, on a daily basis. Al Balushi believes that the demand from buyers from different emirates is related to the quality of the fish that arrive at the Fujairah market, saying that “Fujairah fish is among the most delicious fish in the country.” The days at the market are not without situations that combine seriousness and humour, according to Al Balushi, as he sometimes gets into discussions with the elderly because of the high prices of some fish, and one of them may get angry during the period of bargaining, before he comes back and apologises, so that the relationship between them remains as it was. He stressed that the head of the Fujairah Fishermen Association, Mahmoud Hassan Suleiman Al Ali, has a good relationship with him and has never been short with him throughout his time working in the market. Al Balushi recalls his childhood in the “old neighbourhood,” where he used to play football with his friends among the houses whose doors remained open to the neighbours, noting that some of his companions from that time are still alive, while others have passed away, adding, “Thank God, things were good in this good emirate that embraced me and still embraces me.” Despite having been in the market for many years, Al Balushi does not view brokerage as just a profession, as it has given him a wide network of friendships that extends from Fujairah to the port, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, the Sult