<i>Plenty of Hilsha netted in Bay</i>
A big size fish retailed at Tk 80-200 per kg in Patuakhali
With large catches of Hilsha, the delicious fish is now affordable by commoners. The photo was taken from Patuakhali New Market yesterday.Photo: STAR
Hilsa prices have come down considerably as the delicious fish is being netted in plenty in coastal waters for about a week. Its price in wholesale markets in Patuakhali now range between Tk 80 and 200 per kilogram depending on size. The prices were Tk 250 to Tk 400 two months back. Hundreds of trawlers began catching Hilsa from October 25 when the ban on netting it was over. The fisheries department imposed the ban for 10 days from October 15 to 24 at four points in the Bay to allow Hilsha breeding. The points were Latachaplee near Kuakata beach in Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district, Sherkali to Haitkandi under Mirsharai upazila in Chittagong, North Kutubdia to Gandamara in Cox's Bazar and North Tajumoddin to West Syded Aulia in Bhola district. These covered 7,000 square kilometres in the Bay, considered best areas for natural breeding of Hilsa. This correspondent visited fish markets in Kuakata, Mohipur, Galachipa along the coast and New Market, Launch Ghat and Katpatee in Patuakhali town yesterday and the day before and saw Hilsha being sold at between Tk 80 and 200 per kilogram. “Over 25 tonnes of Hilsa remained unsold at different fish markets in the area for lack of sufficient buyers”, Abdus Salam Howlader, president of Fish Traders Association at Mohipur wholesale market told this correspondent yesterday. “We sent over 50 tonnes of Hilsa to different cities and towns including Dhaka, Jessore and Satkhira through trucks today”, he said. In the local fish market, a maund of Hilsa (each weighting over one Kg) was selling between Tk 7,500 and 8,000. The price was between Tk 14,000 to Tk 14,500 two months ago. Small size (less then one Kg each) Hilsa is being sold at between Tk 3,000 and 3,500 against Tk 10,500-11,000 two months ago, traders said. The retail price in local markets is between Tk 80 and 200. A fish trader at New Market in Patuakhali town said, four big Hilsas, which were sold for Tk 1200 to 1600 a week ago is now sold at only Tk 600-900. “This is for the first time in many years that we see a steady supply of Hilsa,” said Liton at New Market. Fazlu Gazi, president of fishing trawler owners association in Kuakata, said, “We have to sell Hilsa in local market at lower rate. We are not getting fair price”. The district administration formed market monitoring teams to observe Hilsa price. A team led by Monirul Islam, district marketing officer, regularly visits New Market, Natun Bazar, and Puran Bazar fish markets.
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