Perth is in the midst of a fish shortage, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie interrupting supplies from Western Australia's north.
Fishing boats operating off the Kimberley coast were hampered by poor weather conditions for almost two weeks as the damaging low pressure system lingered over the region.
When boats eventually returned to sea, operators were unable to drop their catches in Broome, where volumes are typically sent by road to Perth.
"The highway was cut off just south of Broome," Western Australian Fishing Industry Council chief executive Darryl Hockey said.
"What that meant, as a knock-on, was that the boats then travelled around to Darwin to unload and that therefore those fish will not be coming into the West Australian market.
"It's a reminder of how precarious supply chains are."
Market impact
Kailis Brothers director Theodore Kailis estimates about 15 tonnes of scalefish destined for his seafood company and Perth-based fish market were diverted to Darwin.
He said retailers were lacking popular northern fish species, such as red emperor and coral trout, which had impacted prices.
"There may have been a 15 to 20 per cent adjustment in the market place," he said.
"But we haven't had the fish to fully recognise it in those species; It's more been demand for other species that have sort of come in play to substitute."
Mr Kailis said the supply shortfall had come at a time when fish was in high demand.
"We're still in that summer period, we've got Chinese new year coming up this weekend, so the demand for seafood definitely peaks."
How long will supplies be down?
With the road between Broome and Perth now open, some relief is on its way.
Mr Hockey expects prices to slowly recover over the next month.
"There will be a hole to backfill in those markets, so I think it will take quite a few weeks for normal service to resume," he said.
However, there could be some impact over the long-term with the supply route between Darwin and Perth also impacted.
Darwin-based fishing company Northern Wildcatch Seafood is among those which typically trucks produce to Perth via the Kimberley.
But with severe damage to the Great Northern Highway making that route impassable, fish caught off the Top End will have to detour an extra 800 kilometres.
"We have to freight down through the middle of Australia down into Port Augusta and then the freight will get pulled west from there," Northern Wildcatch Seafood director Grant Barker said.
"We can still do it, it just takes a day or two longer and there's an added freight cost."
Mr Kailis, who buys fish caught off Darwin, thinks the Perth market will continue to feel the effects.
"For as long as the roads are closed and freight access is limited, then there will be an ongoing impact," he said.
