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This was published 7 years ago
Sydney Fish Market set to break record on Christmas Eve
By Peta Gilbert
Crowds at the Sydney Fish Market's annual 36-hour Christmas Seafood Marathon are on track to be the highest on record, with 110,000 people expected to flock to the marketplace.
According to Bryan Skepper, General Manager at the Sydney Fish Markets, the event has seen an average growth of 5-10% each year, and 2016 is no exception.
"We are actually trading slightly ahead of schedule this year," Mr Skepper said. "Last year we hit just over 100,000 people but we are well on our way to exceeding that figure."
The marathon, which started at 5am on December 23, had a high volume of people visiting late Friday night but the busiest time is expected to be Saturday afternoon, with Roads and Maritime Services encouraging visitors to opt for public transport as traffic will be heavy and car spaces will fill up quickly.
Prawns are the biggest sellers at the Sydney Fish Market.Credit: Brendon Thorne
"The Sydney Fish Market has really become an icon for Sydney," Mr Skepper said. "It's pretty iconically Australian to have some fresh prawns and a glass of wine on Christmas Day, followed by some fish on the BBQ."
He says prawns are typically the seafood of choice, with over 200 tonnes expected to be sold over the 36-hour period, followed closely by oysters, crabs and salmon.
Concerns were raised earlier in the week about an outbreak of white-spot disease, which poses no risk to humans but can stop prawns and crabs from growing.
However the NSW Department of Primary industries assured shoppers that the incident will not affect the availability of prawns around Christmas, and that Sydney would be largely unaffected.
More than 100,000 people are expected to visit the market during the 36-hour marathon.Credit: Getty Images
"We've been lucky to have a great supply of seafood this year, at a reasonable price too,"Mr Skepper said. "When you're buying, make sure to look for produce with firm flesh and a fresh ocean smell."
The seafood marathon will continue until 5pm on Saturday.