Bangladesh
Cox's Bazar Hilsa Hilsa flocks to Cox's Bazar: Fishermen not happy even after getting high prices
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, February 8: In Cox's Bazar, fishermen are catching hilsa in flocks. Hilsa-laden trawlers are crowding in the Nuniyachhara Fishery Ghat area of the Bankkhali river in the city. Thousands of hilsas are being unloaded from each trawler at the fish landing center. The fishermen are not happy even though the hilsa prices are high. Fishermen and trawler owners have expressed frustration that they are not getting "adequate" prices.
Ali Akbar, owner of a trawler who was unhappy even after the sale of two and a half thousand hilsas found in one trawler and got 15 lakh rupees. Three traders bought 2,500 hilsas found in his trawler. The buyers bought hilsa weighing 450-600 grams at Rs 400-450, hilsa weighing 800-900 grams at Rs 800-900 and hilsa weighing one kg or more at Rs 950-1,200 from his fishermen.
Joynal Abedin Hazari, leader of the Cox's Bazar Fishermen's Association, said about 55 trawlers had arrived at the fishery from Saturday morning till 12 noon. Each trawler had enough hilsa. Due to the small size and low weight of the fishes, they is not getting the desired prices. Apart from hilsa, every trawler is also bringing various marine fishes including Laikhya, Coral, Guijya, Chapa and Maita.
He further said hilsa weighing 350-400 grams is being sold at wholesale price at Fishery Ghat at Rs 300-350 per kg, hilsa weighing 450-600 grams at Rs 400-450, hilsa weighing 700-800 grams at Rs 500-550, and hilsa weighing 800-900 grams at Rs 800-900. Apart from this, buyers are buying hilsa weighing one kg or more at Rs 950-1,200.
District Fisheries Officer SM Khalequzzaman said fishermen are catching enough hilsa as flocks of the fish rushing to the coast from the deep sea in search of food in winter season. Due to compliance with the restrictions, the production of hilsa in the Bay of Bengal has increased and its size has also increased. Last year, 15,256 tons of hilsa were caught in the district. This time the target for hilsa fishing has been set at 17,000 tons. If the way hilsa is being caught now continues, there is a possibility of reaching the target quickly.
