Despite rough seas and adverse weather, fishermen along the Cox’s Bazar coast are continuing to venture into the Bay of Bengal, returning with abundant loitta catches and offering some relief after days of difficult fishing conditions.
A recent visit to Sonarpara beach found fishermen unloading drums filled with various species of marine fish from trawlers returning from the deep sea. Loitta accounted for the largest share of the catch, with the fish being sorted and sold to wholesalers immediately after landing.
Fishermen said rough sea conditions made both casting and hauling nets extremely difficult, while each fishing trip carried significant risks. Even so, several trawlers managed to return with substantial catches of loitta.
Karim Ullah, a fisherman from Sonarpara, said the sea had been particularly rough.
“It was very difficult to cast and haul the nets because of the high waves. By the grace of Allah, however, we caught a good quantity of loitta. Demand is strong, so the fish are being sold quickly,” he said.
Local wholesalers said the market for loitta remained buoyant, with buyers purchasing the fish as soon as it was unloaded from the trawlers.
Depending on size and quality, wholesale prices currently range between Tk 80 and Tk 90 a kilogram.
Fishermen said fishing in rough seas remained risky, but they hoped catches and earnings would improve further if weather conditions became more favourable in the coming days.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
