There has been a hive of activity at the Savalalo fish market in Apia in recent days as the palolo season woos many to its shoreline for the best deals from sellers.

In recent days buyers and sellers have been mingling at the fish market with the prized marine delicacy coming into town from Savai’i.

On Monday morning there was consensus among many who gathered at the fish market that you have to be on the big island to share in the spoils. 

For many families it can be one of those rare occasions during the year when your fish market sales can double or triple, which explains why many families have been braving the morning chill to get out to the sea to harvest the seasonal sea worms. Prices can vary with small portions of the delicacy going for close to $200 to confirm how lucrative this fishing trade has become. 

Maoi Peti from the village of Papa is one of the many sellers who made their way to the Savalalo fish market in Apia on Monday. It did not take long for her to be spotted by buyers who’ve been waiting all morning. Her bag barely touched the table before buyers swarmed her and her Palolo. At the end of the trading she made a handsome $1,900 tala. 

"My family woke up early to get this and I came to sell it to get some money,” Mrs. Peti told the Samoa Observer. 

With the festive season just around the corner, the extra cash will go a long way in enabling her and her family to prepare for the Christmas holidays.

Another buyer soon arrived with the eager crowd of buyers, again, setting up on him in a bid to palolo before he sold out. Containers were sold for hundreds of tala and everyone was happy. 

One elated customer heaved a sigh of relief that her $2000 tala worth of palolo purchase can now be shared with her other family members in Hawaii, whom she said do not have the same blessings of having a palolo season.

But the palolo hustle does not end there as once it has been bought off the hands, courtesy  of the happy suppliers, they will in turn put them up for sale by reselling them to their next buyers, often earning twice or even thrice the amount they paid for.

And this doesn't stop the palolo buyers from buying it, oblivious to the fact that the ridiculous prices they're paying could have been avoided if they had arrived a few minutes earlier. 

This delicacy is sought after by many and prepared best by frying in butter and served on toast, while those who have palolo are fortunate to enjoy a delicacy that most countries do not have.