POBNEWS24, Dhaka Aug 18, 2023 : After a long time, the deep sea fishermen are returning to the ghat with the desired hilsa. Fishermen and fish traders are happy to see hilsa after a long time. However, coastal fishermen are still disappointed not to get hilsa.
On Thursday (August 17), Patuakhali’s two big fish landing centers Alipur and Mohipur were visited, many trawlers from Chittagong, Bhola, Banshkhali, Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar came to sell hilsa in addition to the locals. The entire fish landing center is abuzz with flocks of hilsa. Fishermen are busy buying and selling hilsa of different sizes.
After a long 65-day blockade, the fishermen were in crisis as they returned twice within seven days of going to sea under the influence of hostile weather. But this time, they are trying to overcome the crisis after seeing hilsa after landing in the sea. As they are happy to see hilsa, they are also happy with the price. However, wholesalers are sometimes losing money due to high prices.
Bellal Hossain, the sailor of FB Maruf trawler who came to sell fish at Alipur fishing landing center told Jago News, I went fishing in the sea 10 days ago. For the first four days, I did not catch any fish. Later I started getting few fishes. Got pretty good fish until yesterday which I haven’t had in a year. Today I came to sell fish at Alipur fishing port. The price of the fish that I got will be more than 10 lakh rupees.
He also said that in the last 2 months, I went to the sea 3 times and lost 15 lakh taka. In the meantime, due to bad weather, we had to return to the shore several times. 10 days ago I came here to sell fish after going fishing from Charfashan. Again from here I will go to the sea with 15 days market. I will repay the loan with the money from the fish sale. In this way, if I get the fish again, I can pay off the debt and spend in the family.
Ejaz Molla, director of Molla Fish, Alipur Fisheries Landing Center, told Jago News that deep sea fishermen are bringing Hilsa in droves and fetching good prices. Today, jatkar mana is selling for 21 thousand taka, hilsa of 600-700 village is 28 thousand, hilsa of 800-900 village is 36 thousand and hilsa above 1 kg is selling for 50 to 70 thousand taka. However, while fishermen are happy with these prices, wholesale buyers often suffer losses.
Kalapara Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha told Jago News that for the past few days, deep sea fishing trawlers are returning with hilsa in droves. However, coastal fishermen are deprived of the desired hilsa. The main reason for this is the formation of several divers along the Andharmanik and Ramnabad channels, due to which the Hilsa has changed its course. The fishermen are getting the benefits of the 65-day blockade. So it would be advisable for coastal fishermen to develop deep sea fishing gear.
