Tariffs come for the Friday fish fry

Summary

Podcast Summary: Marketplace Morning Report

Episode: Tariffs come for the Friday fish fry
Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Marketplace (featuring Sabri Benishore, Kaylee Wells, Marie Mejres)

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Main Theme

This episode focuses on two major economic stories:

1. The rising strategic importance—and vulnerability—of water infrastructure, particularly desalination plants, in Middle Eastern conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
2. The unexpected economic ripple effects of new tariffs and seafood import bans on the classic American tradition of Friday fish fries during Lent.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Water as a Strategic Weapon in Conflict (01:02 – 03:29)

• The ongoing US and Israel conflict with Iran isn't just disrupting oil, LNG, and aluminum supplies—it's now affecting water.
• Many Gulf states (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia) get up to 90% of their potable water from desalination plants, making them highly vulnerable to attack.
  • “If desalination plants were to come under systematic attack, it would be incredibly devastating for the region.” (Sabri Benishore, 02:01)
• Loss of access to desalinated water would have immediate and far-reaching consequences, crippling not just drinking water supplies but industries like farming, oil production, and tourism.
• Attacks on civilian infrastructure, though prohibited by international law, have precedent:
  • Gulf War: Iraqi forces destroyed water facilities and sabotaged supplies by dumping oil (Sabri Benishore & David Mickle, 02:30)
  • Recent conflicts: Russia in Ukraine; Israel in Gaza & West Bank (Marie Mejres, 02:49)
• “We’re increasingly seeing its use as a means to try and force concessions and raise the costs of conflict.” (Sabri Benishore, 02:56)
• Experts warn that more deliberate attacks on water infrastructure could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region.
  • “...by bombing desalination plants ... this really has a psychological impact on the population in a way that little else does, because water is such a vital resource.” (Marcus King via Sabri Benishore/Marie Mejres, 03:15–03:29)

2. Tariffs, Import Bans, and the Price of the Fish Fry (04:55 – 07:45)

• Fish fries during Lent are both a religious tradition and a social phenomenon, creating an “off-season” spike in fish demand (beginning 04:55).
• At the German Family Society in Akron, OH, crowds gather—some for religious reasons, others for community and good food.
  • “We just love the demeanor here. It's just warm and very welcoming. So we came back. This is our second year, and the drinks are cheap.” (Christy Rivera & David M., 05:23)
• Proceeds help fund youth events and cultural travel, though this year meal prices are up by as much as $1.50.
  • “The price for the fish has gone up really high.” (Ewald Langenfeld, 06:14)
• Key reasons for surging fish prices:
  • Tariffs: The US imports about 75% of consumed seafood; new tariffs are raising wholesale prices (Martin Smith, 06:29–06:39).
    • “Those tariffs are increasing the price of seafood.” (Sabri Benishore, 06:39)
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act enforcement: New provisions ban seafood imports from fisheries that don’t meet U.S. standards for protecting dolphins, whales, etc. (06:51)
    • “There are all these fisheries that don't meet U.S. standards... and they are banned from selling seafood into the US Market.” (Sabri Benishore, 07:10)
  • Both factors create a “major dearth of supply” right when Lenten demand spikes (07:14).
• Impact on community events:
  • Despite higher costs, organizations like the German Family Society hope to weather the short-term spike.
    • “All right, we'll see how this week goes if we need to purchase any more. But then we're purchasing at a much higher cost. Significantly higher.” (Ewald Langenfeld, 07:25)
  • Attendance remains strong, suggesting these community events endure despite economic pressures (07:34).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Water Infrastructure in Conflict

  • “If desalination plants were to come under systematic attack, it would be incredibly devastating for the region.” (Sabri Benishore, 02:01)
  • “We’re increasingly seeing its use as a means to try and force concessions and raise the costs of conflict.” (Sabri Benishore, 02:56)
  • “...this really has a psychological impact on the population in a way that little else does, because water is such a vital resource.” (Marcus King via Marie Mejres, 03:29)

• On Fish Fry Economics

  • “The price for the fish has gone up really high.” (German Family Society President, Ewald Langenfeld, 06:14)
  • “We import roughly 75% of the seafood that Americans consume, and so those tariffs are increasing the price of seafood.” (Martin Smith, 06:39)
  • “There are all these fisheries that don’t meet U.S. standards ... and they are banned from selling seafood into the US Market.” (Sabri Benishore, 07:10)
  • “All right, we'll see how this week goes ... But then we're purchasing at a much higher cost. Significantly higher.” (Ewald Langenfeld, 07:25)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:02 – 03:29: Water infrastructure as a weapon and humanitarian risk in the Middle East
• 04:55 – 07:45: Fish fry season and the price spike caused by tariffs and import bans

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains Marketplace’s signature blend of clear-eyed economic reporting, on-the-ground human interest, and crisp expert commentary.

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Conclusion

In just under 10 minutes, this episode connects global events—both military and regulatory—with the immediate realities of local American life: from the geopolitics of water in the Middle East to the humble Friday fish fry in Ohio. New tariffs and environmental standards are raising seafood prices, threatening community traditions, while attacks on water infrastructure jeopardize civilian life abroad—together underscoring how interconnected and fragile modern supply chains and civic rituals have become.

Transcript

[Kaylee Wells]

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[Marie Mejres]

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[Sabri Benishore]

The latest target in the war Water from Marketplace I'm Sabri Benishore, in for David Brancaccio. The US And Israel's war with Iran is disrupting the flow of oil. We know that liquid natural gas, too, and fertilizer and aluminum and helium. An add to that growing list water. Many Gulf countries rely on desalination plants for drinking water, and already in this war, Iran has accused the US of attacking one of its plants. And Bahrain says Iran hit and damaged a plant there with a drone. Marketplace's Samantha Fields has more.

[Marie Mejres]

Water has always been an issue in the Middle East.

[Sabri Benishore]

It's a very arid region. It's a region with a very large and growing population and a growing economy and growing demands on the limited water resources.

[Marie Mejres]

Peter Glick at the nonprofit Pacific Institute says many Gulf countries have invested heavily in desalination plants, which can make seawater potable. Kuwait and oman get about 90% of their water from desalination. In Saudi Arabia, it's about 70%.

[Sabri Benishore]

If desalination plants were to come under systematic attack, it would be incredibly devastating for the region. It would be enormously harmful to the economies.

[Marie Mejres]

Some countries have very little potable water stored and could run out quickly, which would have ripple effects for drinking water and most industries, including farming, oil production and tourism. International law prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure, But David Mickle at the center for Strategic and International Studies says that hasn't prevented them.

[Sabri Benishore]

In the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi forces not only deliberately destroyed desalination facilities in Kuwait on land, but they also dumped millions of barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf. And that oil clogged the intakes for Kuwait's desalinated water supply.

[Marie Mejres]

More recently, Russia has attacked critical water infrastructure in Ukraine, and Israel has done the same in Gaza and the West Bank.

[Sabri Benishore]

We're increasingly seeing its use as a means to try and force concessions and raise the costs of conflict.

[Marie Mejres]

With the Iran war. Marcus King at Georgetown University is worried we could see more intentional attacks on desalination plants and other water infrastructure like pipelines, dams and treatment facilities.

[Kaylee Wells]

Iran does not have a lot of

[Sabri Benishore]

offensive capability left at this point, but one thing they can do is they can have sort of a multiplier effect and by bombing desalination plants, because this really has a psychological impact on the

[Marie Mejres]

population in a way that little else does, he says, because water is such a vital resource for life. I'm Samantha Fields for Marketplace. Foreign.

[Sabri Benishore]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Granger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the winner. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Some Christians, Catholic and Protestant alike, observe these weeks of Lent that lead up to Easter by not eating meat on Fridays. Which means in parts of the country we are in the thick of fish fry season. It is an annual pop up industry that creates an off season spike in demand for fish, and meeting that demand is usually no problem for fisheries. But this year is not a usual year. Marketplace's Kaylee Wells reports from a Friday fish fry.

[Kaylee Wells]

The smell of fried cod wafts into the parking lot of the German Family Society just outside of Akron, Ohio. Doors opened 15 minutes ago and already there are easily 200 butts in seats, and the line for fried cod, German potatoes and coleslaw stretches to the door. Fish fries happen this time of year because Christians who observe Lent eat fish on Fridays instead of meat. But for some of this crowd, religion has nothing to do with it. I'm not Catholic, so no, but the

[Sabri Benishore]

fact that fish is available for that month or five weeks.

[Kaylee Wells]

Christy Rivera and David M. Love a good fish fry and heard about this one from a friend. We just love the demeanor here. It's just warm and very welcoming. So we came back. This is our second year and the drinks are cheap. The price they paid for dinner helps fund uniforms and travel for youth dance groups. So there are children wearing aprons, serving up food and cleaning tables. Carrie Cencias is vice president of the ALL Volunteer Society. Almost every night of the week we have some group here practicing, and we have our teen group that goes to Europe every six to seven years to tour and experience the culture there. This year, dinners cost as much as a buck 50 more than they did last year. The society's president, Ewald Langenfeld, says the increase won't be going toward uniforms and travel.

[Sabri Benishore]

The price for the fish has gone up really high.

[Kaylee Wells]

Now it's winter, not fishing season. Typically, fish producers meet the demand during Lent with more farmed fish.

[Sabri Benishore]

And that's what I would call a normal year. And we're not in a normal year.

[Kaylee Wells]

Martin Smith teaches environmental economics at Duke University and specializes in oceans and fisheries. He says the main cause of that price spike is tariffs.

[Sabri Benishore]

We import roughly 75% of the seafood that Americans consume, and so those tariffs are increasing the price of seafood.

[Kaylee Wells]

The farmed fish that helps meet this Lenten spike in demand is even more likely to be imported. But wait, there's more. Starting this year, the US Implemented provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection act which basically say there are all these fisheries that don't meet U.S. standards for protecting dolphins and whales and sea such, and

[Sabri Benishore]

they are banned from selling seafood into the US Market.

[Kaylee Wells]

So we've got a major dearth of supply. Meeting our annual Lenten Spike in Demand. The German Family Society's president, Ewald Langenfeld, thinks they'll make it through this year's fish fry season.

[Sabri Benishore]

All right, we'll see how this week goes if we need to purchase any more. But then we're purchasing at a much higher cost. Significantly higher.

[Kaylee Wells]

And judging by the packed house, even with the spike in fish prices, there should still be plenty of money left over for the dance troupe uniforms. In Kent, Ohio, I'm Kaylee Wells for

[Sabri Benishore]

Marketplace, and in New York, I'm Sabri Benishore with the Marketplace Morning Report from APM American Public Media.

[Marie Mejres]

Maybe you've had this thought before. What if I turn this hobby into a side hustle? Attempting to turn painting into income may have been the worst idea I've ever had. I'm Marie Mejres, and this week on this is Uncomfortable the pressure to monetize what we love. Can we turn our passion into a paycheck without killing the joy? Listen to this is Uncomfortable. Wherever you get your podcasts,