Chattogram:Fishermen have returned to the Bay of Bengal in large numbers following the conclusion of a 22-day ban that was enforced to protect mother hilsa during their breeding season. The ban's end has prompted thousands of fishermen to resume their activities, hoping for fruitful catches of the valuable silver fish.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, fishing boats are now actively traversing the 160-kilometre expanse of the Bay of Bengal. The first catches have already started arriving at riverside fish depots, reviving these centers after weeks of inactivity. Fresh hilsa, along with pangas and other fish, are being brought ashore in plastic trays, and the calls of auctioneers echo once again at the fish landing centers.
Traders and workers, who had been largely idle during the ban, are now busy operating at the city's Fringi Bazar fish market. Despite the renewed activity, hilsa prices have remained stable, with larger fish continuing to sell at pre-ban rates. Observations of fishing and trading activity were made today between 700 am and 1100 am at the city's Fisherighat, where many fishermen ventured into the Bay of Bengal after midnight on October 30, with their boats returning by daybreak.
The Fisherighat area hosts around 80 small and large hilsa arat depots. Fishermen quickly auction and sell their catches at these depots, with minimal preservation for later sale. Two types of traders purchase fresh hilsa from the landing center local retailers, who sell the fish at Fisherighat, and wholesale traders, who distribute it to different upazilas.
Md Harun, a fisherman from Banskhali village, reported selling hilsa worth Tk 12,800 at dawn. He expressed optimism about repaying debts if such catches continue. Another fisherman, Jahirul Islam, shared that their group sold their catch for Tk 27,000 and planned to return to the river shortly, though he cautioned that hilsa availability might decline in the coming days.
Depot owner Salauddin noted that hilsa prices are unlikely to drop soon due to high demand. A one-kilogram hilsa is priced between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,200, while smaller sizes sell at varying rates. He also mentioned that some fishermen were catching pangas, which are sold alongside hilsa. Prices may decline if catches increase in the future.
Md Abdur Rahim, another depot owner, indicated that fish arrivals began this morning, with clearer trends expected by today and tomorrow. Arat owner Abdul Jalil observed that larger hilsa were more prevalent post-ban, but the supply of smaller fish remained low. Despite limited hilsa catches, fishermen are compensating by catching pangas.
Veteran fish trader Nurul Islam lamented the lack of expected enforcement results, as some fishermen still catch mother hilsa. Moshiur Rahman, Assistant Director of Marine Fisheries in Chattogram, informed BSS about two protective drives a ban on catching juvenile hilsa from November to June and a directive against catching mother hilsa in November next year.