Following UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement that placed the United Kingdom on lockdown, Grimsby Fish Market will be closing after a final auction on Thursday, CEO Martyn Boyers told IntraFish.
The fish market supplies many of the country's major processors.
According to Boyers, the fish market has remained operational three days a week — Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays — but will shut its doors following the lockdown announcement.
"Fish prices have crashed today, so it is not looking good. This is mainly due to the customers closing and now a number of processors in Grimsby are closing," Boyers said.
Earlier in March, Grimsby Fish Market closed its doors to the public, in order to limited exposure to coronavirus risk, reported Grimsby Telegraph.
On Monday, Johnson outlawed gatherings of more than two people and ordered the closure of stores selling non-essential goods such as electronics as he finally put the United Kingdom under lockdown.
“Since Boris made his announcement last night that’s put a huge squeeze on Fish and Chip shop sector,” Grimbsy Fish Merchants spokesperson Simon Dwyer told IntraFish.
Much of the fish sold on the fish market and paid for by the merchants goes into fish and chip shops. The vast majority of fish merchants in Grimsby are seeing a distinct lack of demand for fresh fish, forcing them to temporarily close down and seek the 80% wage grant of up to £2,500 a month.
This will affect up to 150 people in Grimsby.
“Everybody is being pragmatic about it and hoping that the closure will be temporary in terms of a few months rather than beyond that,” Dwyer said.
