Despite being the peak fishing season, the supply of hilsa in the markets has dropped sharply, pushing prices beyond the reach of many consumers in Cox’s Bazar, a region known for its abundant marine fish.
Rough weather in the Bay of Bengal has kept many fishing trawlers ashore, significantly reducing the catch. During a visit to the city’s primary fish market yesterday, only a handful of vendors were seen selling small quantities of hilsa. A one-kilogram fish was priced at Tk 3,000, while slightly smaller hilsa were selling for around Tk 2,500.
Wholesalers at the city’s fish landing centre said that trawlers have been unable to venture into deep waters due to hostile weather. Additionally, much of the catch is sent to advance-paying wholesalers in Dhaka and other parts of the country, worsening the shortage of this prized fish in Cox’s Bazar.
Delwar Hossain, general secretary of the Fishing Boat Owners’ Association, noted that a few trawlers have risked venturing near the coast to catch small fish like loitya, faissa, and churi, but hilsa remains elusive.
According to Sujoy Pal, acting district fisheries officer, last year the district recorded a hilsa catch of 35,800 metric tonnes. This year, the target has been set at 36,000 metric tonnes; however, the current shortage raises concerns about achieving this goal.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
