Barbadian consumers have been warned to brace for a both a shortage of fish and a hike in prices due to the damage to the local fishing fleet from Hurricane Beryl.

More than 200 hundreds boats were damaged or destroyed during the passage of the hurricane and government has stated that fish landings will be significantly affected.

Managing Director of Carlton and A1 Supermarkets, Andrew Bynoe, expects that the full impact of the disruption of the fishing fleet should start to be felt in about two weeks.

Meantime, Dale Lashley, Managing Director of Lashley and Waithe Fish Processors, also expects a shortage of fresh fish given the extent of the damage to the boat fleet.

But he believes the shortage will be almost immediate.

He believes full restoration of the fishing fleet will take quite some time.

Dale Lashley, Managing Director of Lashley and Waithe Fish Processors

Andrew Bynoe expects that getting the full fleet back into the water will be a long process, he also recommends what he calls a redesign of the fishing industry.

Managing and Director of Carlton and A1 Supermarkets, Andrew Bynoe.