The morning market may be quiet, but for fish vendor Laitia Rabuli, every fish on his table represents an opportunity to support his family.
The 47-year-old, who lives in Laqere and hails from Tovu, Totoya, Lau, has been selling fish for nine years.
It is a business that depends heavily on the sea, the weather and, most importantly, customers.
Rabuli gets his supply through middlemen who source fish from boats at the wharf before selling them to vendors.
“I usually get fish from itaukei middlemen. We refrigerate the fish and then sell it,” he said.
His selection includes parrot fish, kanace, salala, ulavi, kabatia and bo, with A-grade fish among the most sought-after.
“Now people mainly ask if we have ta, ulavi or bo.”
Rabuli can be at the market almost every day, although the number of days depends on how much fish is available to him. “Sometimes I come every day, sometimes two or three times a week. It depends on the number of fish being sold to us.”Business, however, is not always steady. He said customers were buying less fish on some days, leaving vendors with stock that had to be kept until the weekend. “Customers hardly come and buy fish. Most times, when the fish aren’t sold, we keep them until Saturday. That is when a lot of customers come and buy fish.”
Rabuli said a batch of fish could sell for about $35 to $45, while his daily earnings could reach around $100 depending on sales.
But the cost of sourcing fish had also increased.
“It is expensive buying from the divers nowadays.”
Selling fish is more than a side hustle. It is a business that is run by Rabuli, with the income helping meet household needs.
The work also comes with risks, particularly when the weather turns cold and fish become harder to source.
“Sometimes we get fish from the divers and sometimes we get less fish. Especially now in this cold weather, it is hard to get fish.”
Despite the challenges, Rabuli believes hard work and sacrifice remain important. “You just must have a lot of faith in yourself. You must be hardworking, and it depends on the effort that you put into what you are focusing on.”
His message to young people is simple; make use of opportunities and keep pushing forward.
Rabuli also hopes the Government improves facilities for fish vendors at the market.
He said proper see-through covers would help protect the fish from flies while on display.
He also raised concerns about a sewage overflow saying the smell affects their ability to attract customers and is unhygienic.
Every day at the market comes with uncertainty, but it is also another chance to earn, provide and keep his family going.
