In December 2023, news spread across the Moheshkhali coast that a single net had caught 159 black popa fish, stirring up excitement and speculation about their value.
The fishermen initially priced the catch at a staggering Tk2 crore, but eventually sold the fish in Chattogram for Tk36 lac.
In July 2023, a 30-kg black popa caught off the coast of Teknaf in the Bay of Bengal fetched Tk9.20 lac.
This high-value catch came shortly after another big haul in November 2022, when a local fisherman from Jaliapara village in Moheshkhali’s Matarbari Union sold eight Black popa in a single night, turning him into an overnight millionaire. In 2019, a net cast landed 81 giant black popa in the same area, selling for Tk40 lakh.
According to fishermen, the black popa isn’t typically on the list of popular local fish, so the hefty price tags have left some in awe.
Dr. Shafiqul Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer at Cox’s Bazar Marine Fisheries & Technology Centre, told the BBC that the high price largely hinges on the fish’s swim bladder, an air-filled organ crucial for buoyancy, known locally as fadna or fotka.
International markets highly value the swim bladder, making it an export commodity.
Japan, in particular, relies heavily on this organ to produce surgical materials and cosmetics.
“Companies around the world are now collecting these swim bladders, as the demand is substantial abroad,” Dr. Rahman added, highlighting a growing industry tied to this rare yet valuable fish.
By Rajin Saleh
