Fish, once a staple on our tables, has now become a luxury that few can afford. At markets and supermarkets across Serbia, fish sellers complain about the near absence of customers, while kilograms of fish remain unsold. The average fish consumption in Serbia is between 3 and 7 kilograms per person annually, compared to the European Union average of 20 kilograms. Why is this happening? The price! A kilogram of live carp costs around 500 dinars, while fillets and cutlets can reach up to 1,200 dinars, and trout is even more expensive at about 1,500 dinars per kilogram. In times when the average consumer basket is barely sustainable, many opt for cheaper options like pork, chicken, or eggs. But price is not the only problem. Buyers increasingly distrust freshness labels, as fish is often actually thawed, especially in large retail chains where fish can sit for several days. The situation is somewhat better at markets, but even there, customers are often disappointed and rarely return. Sellers also complain about the lack of workers skilled in cleaning and preparing fish, and the job is especially tough in summer due to high temperatures that complicate storage. Serbia imports about 35,000 tons of fish annually, while domestic production ranges between 12,000 and 15,000 tons, which further raises costs and reduces the competitiveness of local fish. Overall, fish is slowly disappearing from everyday tables, rarely found in school cafeterias, and offered only symbolically by restaurateurs. If the approach of the state, traders, and consumers does not change, fish may remain reserved only for holidays and those with deeper pockets. Weekends at markets show the same pattern: stalls full of fish, no buyers, and health quietly going down the drain.
