Six coral fish weighing a total of 35.2 kilograms were caught in a dragnet in the Naf River in Teknaf. The largest fish weighed 23 kilograms, while the remaining five weighed a combined 12 kilograms.
The fish were initially priced at Tk 45,000 and were later sold for Tk 42,000.
The fish were caught around 12:30 pm on Thursday near the Shah Porir Dwip jetty area in Sabrang union by fisherman Nurul Amin Majhi. He later sold the fish to Mohammad Yahia, chairman of Shah Porir Group in Chattogram.
Nurul Amin Majhi said he had cast his net around 9:00 am in the Naf River near Gholar Char and the jetty area of Shah Porir Dwip. About two hours later, he began pulling up the net and first discovered the 23kg coral fish, followed by five smaller ones.
After the fish were brought to the jetty, tourists and local residents gathered to see them. The fish were eventually sold at Tk 1,200 per kilogram.
A tourist couple visiting from Dinajpur said they had previously only seen such large coral fish on television. They added that in their region, the species is commonly known as “bhetki fish.”
Fish trader Mohammad Ilias said large coral fish have recently been appearing more frequently in fishermen’s nets in the Naf River. He added that locally caught coral fish from the river are in high demand in Chattogram markets.
Senior Fisheries Officer Obaidul Haque said large coral fish are now regularly caught in the Naf River and are known for their taste. According to him, the species typically weighs 30 to 35 kilograms.
He also said fishing activities in the Naf River had remained restricted for a long time due to the Rohingya situation and seasonal government restrictions during breeding periods. Compliance with those restrictions has contributed to the increased presence of large fish in the river.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
