July, August, and September mark the peak season for hilsa, but fishermen are failing to catch the desired quantity of fish in their nets this year.
Despite spending lakhs of taka to cast nets in the sea, fishermen are returning empty-handed, driving trawler owners into financial ruin after consecutive losses and forcing many to shut down their fish businesses.
With only a few days remaining before the end of the hilsa season, Zahid Majhi, owner of the trawler FB Mayer Doa from Charduani area of Patharghata in Barguna, spent Tk34 lakh on hilsa fishing in the Bay of Bengal.
Majhi said he ventured into the sea eight times during the current season with 18 fishermen at a cost of Tk34 lakh, but managed to sell hilsa worth only Tk6.76 lakh. Facing continuous losses after every trip, he has now suspended fishing operations altogether.
Harun Ur Rashid, a fisherman on the trawler, said they cast nets across all potential areas of the south-western Bay of Bengal for nearly three months without catching the expected amount of hilsa.
“The trawler owner spent lakhs of taka, but it was a total loss; out of shame, we cannot even ask for our wages,” he added.
In another instance, 18 fishermen aboard the trawler FB Ayan, owned by Shukur Miah of Barguna Sadar, spent Tk4 lakh on a fishing expedition.
After casting nets in the sea for 13 days, FB Ayan returned to the ghat at the Patharghata fish landing centre on Saturday afternoon.
Trawler skipper Sagir Sikder reported that after spending Tk4 lakh, they sold hilsa worth only Tk1.5 lakh, incurring a loss of Tk2.5 lakh and returning to the ghat disappointed.
Trawler fishermen said they wait the entire year for the hilsa season to offset nine months of losses, but have suffered a complete collapse during the peak season this year.
Abul Hossain Farazi, owner of the trawler FB Allah-er Dan, said hilsa is virtually non-existent in the sea. He explained that owners repeatedly borrow money to send trawlers to sea in the hope of profit, only to incur losses each time.
Farazi pointed out that while news of a single trawler catching fish worth Tk20 lakh to Tk50 lakh goes viral, no one discusses the remaining trawlers among the 5,000 operating at a loss.
At least 300 owners facing ruin
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Trawler Owners’ Association, said at least 300 trawler owners have been financially ruined in the current hilsa season.
He attributed the crisis to illegal nets in the sea, fish hunting by trawling vessels, pirate harassment, adverse weather, rising fuel and supply costs, and a severe hilsa shortage.
He added that despite repeatedly submitting written complaints to the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry, not a single issue has been resolved, leaving fishermen helpless.
