Home ›› 02 Aug 2022 ›› Nation
Frustration is growing among the fishers of coastal area in Cox’s Bazar due to lack of Hilsa since Thursday whereas an abundance of the fish was caught the week before.
Local sources said the sudden decline in the volume of Hilsa catching in the district came after an abundance of the fish was caught in the last week.
The trawler owners and fishermen bagged lucrative profit in those days selling the fish at high prices as flocks of Hilsa were netted from the sea.
Out of the 45 trawlers that unloaded fish from 8am to 12pm on Saturday at Nuniachhata ghat, the wholesale fish market in Cox’s Bazar town, only 10-12 trawlers had Hilsa fishes, each delivering a few hundred. But the remaining trawlers had no Hilsa at all. However, each of those trawlers brought several maunds of Popa, Maitya, Chapa and Rupchanda fishes.
Fishermen said a huge amount of Hilsa was caught in the sea last year after the lifting of the 65-day government ban and they expected the same this year too. In the first week after the ban, each trawler netted around 500-1,000 Hilsa per day, bringing a hefty profit to both the trawler owners and fishermen. But during the last 4/5 days, most of the trawlers are returning empty-handed from the sea without any Hilsa.
On Saturday morning, fishing trawler FB Mayer Doa sold about 100 Hilsas at the Nuniachhata ghat, each weighing 500-800 grams, for a total of Tk 28,000.
Amir Hossain, the owner of the trawler, said they netted only 100 Hilsas after 12 days of fishing in the sea. “Around Tk 5 lakh has been spent during the time for the accommodation and food for 21 fishermen along with fuel and other costs,” he added.
Shahinul Haque’s trawler FB Marshall caught about 900 Hilsas. “We caught these after fishing for a few days in the deep sea, about 70-80 km away from the coast. It seems, Hilsa has suddenly disappeared from the sea,” he said.
Saiful Islam, the fisherman of the trawler FB Shiuli, said currently the sea is very hot and as a result, the swarms of Hilsa have swam into the deep sea, about 100-120 km off the coast. It is not possible for small boats or trawlers to go that far to fish.
Hilsa trader Omar Kazi said 15 tonnes of Hilsa were transported to Dhaka from the wharf on Saturday and 21 tonnes were transported on Friday.
At least 400 traders of Nuniachhata wholesale fish market supply Hilsa and other sea fishes to different areas of the country including Dhaka, he added.
The Fish Traders Union Advisor and Hilsa trader Zainal Abedin said fishermen had brought a good amount of Hilsa since July 23. But since Thursday the volume of Hilsa catching is declining.
Trawler owners and fishermen are disappointed because of this sudden decline in Hilsa netting in the sea. They said fishermen of Chattogram, Barishal, Bagerhat, and Khulna face a similar situation.
Rafiqul Islam’s trawler had bought about 9,000 Hilsa of 110 maunds to the wharf this season. The owner made a profit of Tk 39 lakh.
“My trawler went out on the night of July 22 and caught 9,000 in a single day. After coming back and selling the fish the trawler went out again on July 24 but came back on Thursday with only 120 fish,” he said.
Delwar Hossain, Secretary of Cox’s Bazar Fishing Boat Owners Association, said at least 6,000 trawlers from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Moheshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua and Chakaria upazilas of the district went to the sea to catch Hilsa.
“Most of the trawlers returned with a good amount of Hilsa in the first week but now they are returning empty-handed,” he said.
The weight of 40 per cent of Hilsa fishes sold at Nuniachhata ghat weighs around 900-1800 grams, 50 per cent weighs about 500-700 grams, and 10 per cent weighs 350-450 grams.
The wholesale price of 100 Hilsa, weighing 400-500 grams, was Tk 25,000 on Saturday at Nuniachhata ghat while 100 Hilsa, weighing 500-600 grams, was sold for Tk 35,000, 100 Hilsa weighing 700-800 grams was sold for Tk 42,000, 100 Hilsa weighing 900-1000 grams was sold for Tk 70,000 and 100 Hilsa weighing 1000-2000 grams was sold for Tk 1.7 lakh.
Cox’s Bazar District Fisheries Officer Md Badruzzaman said “The reason for the sudden disappearance of Hilsa is being investigated. We expect the situation will be resolved in a few days.”
Last year, 39,314 tonnes of Hilsa were caught from Cox’s Bazar coast. This year the target has been set at 50,000 tonnes, he added.
