After weeks of rough weather, fishermen along the Cox’s Bazar coast are once again heading out to sea—and returning with plentiful catches. Among the various fish being brought ashore, Loitta (Bombay duck) is dominating the nets this monsoon.
Fishing trawlers docking at coastal landing points like Rejukhal and Manglar Tek are unloading sizable quantities of Loitta fish, both small and large. Fishermen report that the monsoon season typically yields a higher volume of this species.
Currently, Loitta is being sold at wholesale prices ranging from Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kilogram, while in retail markets it fetches around Tk 150 to Tk 180 per kilogram.
However, the lack of organized fish preservation and processing facilities in the area means fishermen are often forced to sell their catch in bulk at lower prices. As a result, traders from distant districts flock to these coastal points to buy fresh fish directly from the source.
Interestingly, once considered a less desirable catch, Loitta is now gaining popularity in Cox’s Bazar, especially among tourists who are increasingly fond of its taste and versatility in coastal cuisine.
As the blue economy continues to develop, such seasonal surges in catch highlight the untapped potential of local marine resources, if backed by proper storage, processing, and marketing infrastructure.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Tareque Hasan
