Trawler returns with 60 maunds of hilsa, fetches Tk 35 lakh

A fisherman from the Kalapara sub-district of Patuakhali raked it in after returning from a four-day fishing trip on the morning of August 7 with around 60 maunds, or over 2,200 kilogrammes, of hilsa.

This journey earned him around Tk 35 lakh.

However, trawler owner Jahangir Hossain said he had hit the jackpot on the very first day, when he was fishing near the last buoy of the Payra Port in the Bay of Bengal, catching an entire school in his net, reports a Barishal correspondent.

After docking at the Alipur Fisheries Port, a major fish landing center in Patuakhali, he sold his haul to local wholesalers for Tk 35 lakh, he said.

Hossain added that the sea was offering better fish than rivers, with the caveat that most hilsa are small in size.

"Some fish have been coming to the port for the past few days. Although the size of the fish is relatively small, some fish are coming, which is good news," Jalil Hawlader, port officer at the Alipur Fisheries Port, said.

Apu Saha,Kalapara senior upazila fisheries officer, said more hilsa could be caught if there is rain. "It is expected that sufficient fish will be available if the weather is normal and there is rain."

Hisla production in Bangladesh has been on a downward slope for many years as years of overfishing, combined with habitat loss and climate change impacts, have led to declining hilsa stocks and reduced catches. 

In Bangladesh, where it is a staple food and a major source of income, this has impacted not only fish populations, but also the livelihoods of millions of people.

Hilsa production fell to its lowest in seven years in the 2023-24 season, according to data from the Department of Fisheries.

At the start of the rainy season in July this year, many reported that hilsa prices had hit record highs, making the beloved delicacy unaffordable for low-and middle-income families.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, hilsa prices at the start of July were around 40% higher than the same time last year as demand outpaced supply and fishing costs rose.