CHATTOGRAM: Fishermen are netting a huge quantity of hilsa from the sea every day and returning to Fishery Ghat in Chattogram with a broad smile on their faces.
Robi Sankar Joldash, a fisherman, told the FE that they are catching a huge quantity of hilsa fish during the current season. "We are satisfied with the prices of hilsa fish."
Visiting Fishery Ghat, this correspondent found fish traders selling medium-sized hilsa at Tk 18,000-Tk 20,000 per maund while big-sized hilsa at Tk 35,000-Tk 38,000 per maund in the wholesale market.
They were selling mid-sized hilsa fish at Tk 500 to Tk 700 per kg while big-sized hilsa at Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,400 per kg in the retail markets.
Manjur Alam Bonik, an inspector at the fisheries department in Chattogram said, "A total of 6,956 tonnes of hilsa were produced in the fiscal year 2020-2021 while hilsa production was 5,683 tonnes in the FY 2019-2020. The production increased by 1,273 tonnes last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal."
"The quantity of hilsa fish is increasing day by day due to a ban on fishing during the breeding season. Our fishermen are catching a huge quantity of fish every year. As per rule 55 (2) of the Maritime Fisheries Act-1983, the government imposes the ban on fishing to boost fish production in the sea," he added.