Soaring hilsha catches fail to impact price
Sunday, 17 June 2007
BARISAL, Jun 16 (bdnews24.com): Fishermen in the south are netting large numbers of hilsha fish from the confluence of coastal rivers. However, as deep-sea fishing of hilsha has been interrupted due to inclement weather, the huge catches are failing to have any impact on price of hilsha in the local market.
Wholesalers say there is no possibility of falling price of hilsha fish before the fishermen take to sea again.
Rafique Saadi, a fish trader from Tajamuddin in Bhola district, told the news agency that huge numbers of hilsha fish are being caught in the confluence of the Meghna for the last three to four days.
Abdul Gaffar Talukder, chairman of Hijla-Gaurabdi union in Barisal, said each big fishing boat was catching 20 mounds to 25 mounds of hilsha everyday from the confluence of the Meghna. More catches are expected due to the influence of the new moon Sunday when the hilsha will further congregate in coastal rivers.
Fishermen also reported netting huge fish in the rivers of Golachipa Upazila in Patuakhali.
Monirul Islam, a boat owner from Char Montaz, the major fish landing station of Golachipa, claimed that he has netted more than 1,000 hilsha in the last five days.
Fish wholesaler Manik Miah of Golachipa sadar told the news agency that price in the market has decreased slightly due to the hilsha being netted at present. "A one-kilogramme hilsha was selling for Tk 500 to Tk 600 just a week ago, but was now being sold for Tk 400," he added.
He also explained that as the netting of jatka (hilsha fry) was less last winter due to strict monitoring by the interim administration, there was a possibility of more fish being netted this year.
Several hundred fishing trawlers remained anchored at the ports, it was informed. On a spot visit it was found that fishermen and workers at the wholesale fish markets were passing idle time. They said it would not be possible to go to sea before the weather improves.
Wholesalers say there is no possibility of falling price of hilsha fish before the fishermen take to sea again.
Rafique Saadi, a fish trader from Tajamuddin in Bhola district, told the news agency that huge numbers of hilsha fish are being caught in the confluence of the Meghna for the last three to four days.
Abdul Gaffar Talukder, chairman of Hijla-Gaurabdi union in Barisal, said each big fishing boat was catching 20 mounds to 25 mounds of hilsha everyday from the confluence of the Meghna. More catches are expected due to the influence of the new moon Sunday when the hilsha will further congregate in coastal rivers.
Fishermen also reported netting huge fish in the rivers of Golachipa Upazila in Patuakhali.
Monirul Islam, a boat owner from Char Montaz, the major fish landing station of Golachipa, claimed that he has netted more than 1,000 hilsha in the last five days.
Fish wholesaler Manik Miah of Golachipa sadar told the news agency that price in the market has decreased slightly due to the hilsha being netted at present. "A one-kilogramme hilsha was selling for Tk 500 to Tk 600 just a week ago, but was now being sold for Tk 400," he added.
He also explained that as the netting of jatka (hilsha fry) was less last winter due to strict monitoring by the interim administration, there was a possibility of more fish being netted this year.
Several hundred fishing trawlers remained anchored at the ports, it was informed. On a spot visit it was found that fishermen and workers at the wholesale fish markets were passing idle time. They said it would not be possible to go to sea before the weather improves.