Dakar Beach-side Fish Market

The fish market on the beach is a fascinating place.  Over 3 days, I have observed it at different times, from different angles and still only managed to make out an outline of the dynamics. 

In the early morning, the boats go out.  

Birds circle overhead.  At first I thought they were kites.  We have a lot of them in Hong Kong and I was happy to see them there.  But something was not right.  They fly too low, and do not show the slowly ascending soaring movement.  I thought, perhaps, it was because Dakar does not have the high rises that provide the updraft that enable the kites in Hong Kong yo soar so efficiently.  But they also look small. 

The beach is practically deserted.  Most of the boats are gone.  A few stragglers are still loading nets into their boats.  

Many crows are picking from the leftovers from the market last evening. Then I realised what I saw earlier were crows pretending to be kites.  

By early afternoon, some boats are coming back.  Rollers are put under the boats to take them up the beach.  Still no market. 

By late afternoon, the market is bustling with people and fish.  Right at the water's edge.  Sometimes you have to step-in the water to get around. 

They have huge groupers, some must weigh more than 10 kilograms. 

Big, beautiful puffer fish.  I wonder whether they are poisonous.  Perhaps they are just cousins?  Perhaps the puffers eat different foods here, and are therefore not poisonous?

Mahi mahi or some cousins.

Sharks, even hammerheads. 

Morey eels. They don’t look so ominous when they are dead. 

Big, lean, muscular tunas. 

Geometrical fishes. 

Fake fishes.

There is much more.  Fascinating, I say.