Fair prices of freshwater fish delight Rajshahi fishers

As winter sets forth, bidding farewell to autumn, fishers of Rajshahi pass a busy time catching freshwater fish, taking benefits of the receding water in most of the natural reservoirs of the northern division.

According to the Divisional Fisheries Office, Rajshahi, they have fixed a target of netting 5.17 lakh metric tonnes of fish in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

“We produced 5.04 lakh metric tonnes of fish last year, and we are hoping to exceed the target this year,” said Tofaz Uddin Ahmed, deputy director of the fisheries office.

Although there was less rainfall this monsoon compared to past years, it did not affect fish production that much, and fishers are getting fair prices, said the official.

Freshwater fish varieties of Chalan Beel, the largest wetland of Bangladesh, are quite popular across the country for their taste and quality.

Driven by demand, fish production in the region is also on the rise.

About 83,400 metric tonnes of fish were produced in Chalan Beel and other water bodies of Rajshahi in the last fiscal year, said Alak Kumar Saha, fisheries officer of the district.

“The production of freshwater fish might decrease this year due to less rainfall in the region.

However, fishers are recouping their losses by netting fish from artificial reservoirs, such as ponds,” said the official.

Rakib, a seasonal fisherman of Singra upazila in Natore, told The Business Post they catch a massive amount of fish with locally made fishing nets and enclosures, such as jalee, chai, and fish creel every year.

“We are able to net these fish varieties as the Chalan Beel water has receded. In 10 to 12 days, the water would recede more, and we will be able to catch even a larger amount,” he said.

“Sometimes we do not get enough fish in the natural water bodies. However, as the fish varieties produced in the ponds have the same demand and quality across the country, we do not face losses,” said another amateur fisherman Shahdat, adding they are getting good prices for fish this year.

They mentioned that they find mostly local varieties of fish, such as Kholse (Banded gourami), Punti (Swamp barb), Shoul (Snakehead murrel), Koi (Climbing gourami), and Shing (Stinging catfish), in these natural and artificial water reservoirs.

Ashraful, general secretary of Singra Fish Market Committee, told The Business Post they have 52 fish preservation centres-cum-markets in the locality alone.

He said, “The price of fish is Tk 40 to Tk 50 higher per kilogramme this year. Therefore the fishermen are able to recoup their losses caused by the pandemic.

“Also, wholesalers and buyers are flocking to the water bodies themselves to buy fish. So fish transportation hassles are less this year.”

Jahangir Alam, fisheries officer of Natore, said the district had produced 66,934 metric tonnes of fish in the 2020-21 fiscal year. Although production is less this year, the high price stabilises the market, and the farmers are happy with the returns, he said.

Fisheries Officer of Pabna Abul Kalam Azad said the district had produced 68,592 metric tonnes of fish in the last fiscal year.

“Fishermen are distributing fish to different districts, including the capital, after meeting local demand,” he said.

Dr Amimul Ehsan, fisheries officer of Naogaon, said, “Fishers in the district are producing dry fish with their netted fish as production is good this year.”

“We are opting for modern technology to boost the overall production in the district, and fishers are getting a good return,” Shahid Ali, fisheries officer of Sirajganj, said.