2.3kg Hilsa Caught Off Kuakata Sells at Auction for Tk 8,510

A hilsa weighing 2 kilograms 300 grams has been caught in the Bay of Bengal off Kuakata by a fisher who returned to sea after a 22-day ban ended. As soon as it reached shore, the fish drew the attention of wholesalers and was later sold at auction.

Fish wholesalers and fishers said the hilsa, caught in the net of a fisher named Nabi Hossain, was sold by auction at the Kuakata municipal fish landing centre. At a rate of Tk 145,000 per maund, the fish sold for Tk 8,510. Hearing the price sparked curiosity among local buyers and tourists.

When the fish was brought to the fish wholesale market on Friday afternoon, local fish trader Joynal Gharami bought it through the auction. Joynal Gharami, proprietor of Gharami Fish Kuakata, said he would prepare the fish for export.

Earlier, last Wednesday, Joynal Gharami had also bought another hilsa weighing 2 kilograms for Tk 7,400.

Nabi Hossain, the fisher of the trawler that caught the fish, said: 'We go fishing daily. This is the first big hilsa after the 22-day ban ended. Alongside small jatka hilsa, we got one big fish. We sold it at a very good price.'

Local resident Mirajul Hasan said: 'Hilsa is the national fish. Everyone wants to eat a big hilsa. But for middle-class families like ours, hilsa has now become a dream. I wanted to buy the fish but could not because the price was so high.'

Joynal Gharami of Gharami Fish, who bought the fish, said: 'There is hardly any hilsa in the sea to begin with. Most of what is caught is jatka. Big hilsa is not always available. Considering the fish's weight and quality, I bought it for Tk 8,500. Buyers have a lot of interest in big hilsa. I hope I can sell it at a good price.'

Professor Dr Rajib Sarkar of the Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics under the Faculty of Fisheries at Patuakhali Science and Technology University said that as fishing resumed after the 22-day ban, large hilsa are being caught in fishers' nets. Keeping fishing closed during the breeding season creates an opportunity for a positive effect on hilsa breeding and reproduction.

Dr Rajib Sarkar added that catching one big hilsa does not mean hilsa production has increased, and no such conclusion should be drawn. Understanding hilsa production and availability requires long-term research and analysis of catch statistics.

Kalapara upazila senior fisheries officer Zahirunnabi said catching a large hilsa is a matter of joy for fishers. The government's fish conservation activities are important to ensure hilsa production and breeding. Fishers must harvest fish following the law, and the ban set for hilsa breeding and growth must be properly observed.