Dry fish processing at its peak in Sundarbans

KHULNA, Nov 9 (UNB): Dry fish processing is now at its peak in the Sundarbans as the char (shoals emerged from riverbed) areas here are bustling with the people involved in the industry.
The fishermen and owners of several dry fish processing units are passing busy time in the 14 char areas, including Dublarchar, in eastern Sundarbans.
This year, around 10,000 people, including fishermen and depot owners, have gone into the Bay of Bengal for collecting fish obtaining passes from the forest department of the Sundarbans (East zone).
East zone forest department sources said the five-month long dry fish processing season started in the second week of October.
Around 10,000 fishermen and fish traders have set up makeshift sheds in several char areas along the Bay for collecting fish for dry fish processing.
The char areas include Dublarchar, Meher Ali Char, Alorkol, Afishkilla, Majherkilla, Shelarchar, Narkelbaria, Choto Ambaria, Boro Ambaria, Manikhali, Kabarkhali, Chaprakhalichar, Kokilmoni and Holdakhalichar.
Besides, Coast Guard has strengthened security for the fishermen travelling on the Bay and those involved in dry fish processing.
Dublarchar Jele Polli (Fishermen Village) comprises at least 15 fish collection, processing and marketing centres.
Dublarchar patrol camp of Sundarbans forest department collects a fixed amount of revenue from the makeshift sheds and firewood used by the fishermen.
Revenue is collected mostly on the basis of the amount of the fish collected and dry fish processed at the village.
The government had an income of Tk 12 million revenue from this sector in the Sundarbans last year.
Besides, the forest department earned Tk 12.7 million revenue from 25,238 quintal dry fish at Jele Polli last season.
About 9,000 fishermen collected fish for dry fish from 55 depot owners and 895 fishermen sheds in the last season while this year fishermen obtained their passes for making 115 depots and 3,400 fishermen sheds.
Some fish traders claimed that 10,000 fishermen who started their journey for colleting fish will reach the dry fish processing zone in safe with the help of Coast Guard members.
Every year, fishermen have to face harassment by the forest robbers in different ways, including paying them a good amount of toll.
Fish traders have demanded stern actions by the law enforcement agencies against the culprits.
However, fishermen greatly contribute to destruction of the forest resources, including forest wood, in the Sundarbans by using those for catching fish and dry fish processing.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amir Hossain Chowdhury said about 10,000 fishermen on several hundred trawlers and boats go into the sea for collecting fish in the dry fish season every year.
At that time, they make devices for catching fish by using Sundari wood, causing destruction of the forest resources. A view-exchange meeting was held with the fishermen and fish traders for not using the forest wood, he added.
Besides, the government has taken tough security measures to crack down hard on robbery during the ongoing dry fish season, he added.