This is the world of meat cleavers, bloodied white aprons and fish scales that crunch underfoot.

"Hey, larney, I will make a good price for you," fishmonger Dellery Dorry shouts, beckoning customers to his stall.

In the background, rows of stalls containing mutton, beef, offal, chicken, fish and other types of seafood glisten under the glow of fluorescent lights.

Everybody knows you can score a bargain at the market, but the economic crunch means Dorry and his fellow stall holders really mean it when they promise to make a good price.

Turnover is down 50 percent compared to previous years and the rapidly changing dynamic of the CBD has seen a change in customer demographics.

"We have suffered the effects of the economic recession and a decreased influx of people visiting the CBD. But the increased number of foreigners (Pakistanis, Chinese and African nationals) living in the CBD who prefer the market set-up... have made up the shortfall," said Dorry.

The market has historically catered for the Indian community in Durban.

Dorry, like many of the other stall holders, are fourth generation descendants of the pioneering traders of the Victoria Street Market which first opened its doors in 1910.

Dorry sells all types of fish including slinger, soldier fish, salmon, kob and silverfish with the average price ranging from R49,99 a kilogram. He has never been fishing.

He says the main reason the number of people visiting the market has declined is due to the widely held perception that it is riddled with crime.

Another fishmonger, Khathieja Khan, agrees with Dorry.

"People are afraid to visit the market. They assume they will be robbed as soon as they step out of their cars.

"Though there have been isolated incidents, the market is safe. We have ample security," she said.

Though a number of empty stalls dot the market, Khan says her business is expanding.

"We own three shops and have just taken over a fourth. We used to focus exclusively on seafood but are now expanding into poultry. The business is growing," she said.

They specialise in crab, prawns and crayfish. Distinguished customers who frequent Khan's stores include Minority Front leader Amichand Rajbansi and eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba.

Thanshan Chetty, the grandson of the famous Seaman Chetty, says parking is a problem.

"There is no free parking and the parking facilities are inadequate. Customers complain about the high tariffs of the nearby parking arcade," he said.

Specialising in chicken and offal, Chetty says the biggest benefit about shopping in the market is that the stall holders do not deal in frozen products.

"We only sell fresh products. They come in one day and are sold the next. There is a wide variety of products to choose from and you always have the option of bargaining," he said.

The market takes pride in its original style of retailing.

"We are different from a supermarket or a butchery. Besides stocking a variety of fresh goods that are delivered from the local farms or trawlers, we cut the products according to the customers' specifications and sell products that are not usually stocked such as beef tripe, turkey and chicken egg bags," says Anesh Chetty, a poultry seller.

The market celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.

The Victoria Street Market's Fresh Fish and Meat Market is on the corner of Queen and Victoria streets in the heart of Durban's CBD.

Trading hours are Mondays to Saturdays from 6am to 6pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.