Cox’s Bazar Fishery Ghat, usually bustling with abundant fresh fish, presented a different picture this Friday (December 13). Even on the weekend, there was a noticeable scarcity of fish, including the prized hilsa, with prices soaring due to limited supply.
Only a handful of fishing trawlers, most with meager catches, returned from the sea during a morning visit to the Cox’s Bazar Fish Landing Center. Many fishermen expressed disappointment after a week of fishing, citing a sharp decline in fish availability in the Bay of Bengal since winter began. This has left several trawlers still at sea, hoping for better luck.
Wholesale prices of hilsa have skyrocketed, reflecting the supply crunch. They are selling a batch of 100 hilsas, each weighing over 1 kg, for Tk150,000. Smaller hilsas, weighing less than 1 kg, sell for Tk120,000 per 100 pieces, with even smaller sizes costing Tk100,000.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
