Fishermen have started returning to the Bay of Bengal as the sea gradually calms following several days of rough weather, bringing increased catches of the marine red shrimp locally known as Lal Icha to the Cox’s Bazar Fish Landing Centre, Fishery Ghat.
Alongside different varieties of marine fish, trawlers arriving at the landing centre are unloading substantial quantities of the locally popular shrimp, resulting in brisk trading between wholesalers and retailers.
A visit to the fish landing centre found wholesale prices of Lal Icha ranging from Tk 200 to Tk 250 a kilogram, depending on size. In retail markets, shrimp is selling for Tk 300 to Tk 600 a kilogram.
Traders expect prices to ease further if supplies continue to increase in the coming days.
Wholesale fish trader Abdul Karim said trawlers had resumed returning to shore as sea conditions improved.
‘The supply of Lal Icha is increasing every day. Prices are now affordable for buyers, and the market has become much livelier,’ he said.
Retail trader Nurul Alam said demand for the shrimp remained consistently strong, particularly from hotels, restaurants and household consumers.
‘If more trawlers return with larger catches, prices are likely to decline further,’ he added.
Fishermen said that favourable weather conditions had encouraged them to resume deep-sea fishing after several days of disruption.
They expressed hope that more trawlers would return over the next few days, increasing the supply of marine fish and helping to stabilise prices in local markets.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo; Mohammad Morshed
