A fishing trawler has netted a record 46 maunds of hilsa in the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata, Patuakhali, selling the catch for a whopping Tk48.50 lakh at an auction. The massive haul, caught after a long dry spell, has sparked immense joy among local fishermen.
The catch was made on Thursday in the deep sea near the final buoy of Payra Seaport by Alamgir Majhi with his trawler named FB Junaid. The fisherman caught approximately 2,200 pieces of hilsa in a single cast of his net.
The fish-laden trawler reached Mahipur Fish Port on Friday, where hilsa was sold through an auction at Monowara Fish warehouse.
According to warehouse sources, 24 maunds of the netted hilsa, with each fish weighing one kilogram or more, were sold at Tk1.15 lakh per maund, bringing in Tk27.60 lakh. The remaining 22 maunds of hilsa, weighing between 800 and 900 grams each, were sold at Tk95,000 per maund, fetching Tk20.90 lakh.
“We have received such a large consignment of hilsa together after nearly five years,” said the trawler’s skipper [majhi], Alamgir. “We netted about 2,200 pieces of hilsa with just one cast of the net. We are extremely delighted to get such a catch after suffering losses for a long time,” he added.
Sagir Akon, manager of Monowara Fish, said, “It has been a long time since such a massive consignment of hilsa arrived here.” “Since the market price of Hilsa is currently high, the fishermen secured an excellent price. It is highly unusual to find Hilsa of such large sizes in such quantities together,” he added.
Bokhtiar Rahman, a research assistant for “Sustho Sagor” project, funded by Blue Action Fund and implemented jointly by WCS and WorldFish, said most fishing boats have lately failed to secure their expected catch.
“Under such circumstances, catching 46 maunds of hilsa in a single trawler is undoubtedly comforting news and brings hope to the fishermen,” he said. However, Rahman cautioned that a single day’s harvest cannot be considered an indicator of overall hilsa abundance.
“This needs to be evaluated through continuous monitoring and scientific data. To sustain this positive trend, it is crucial to raise awareness among fishermen, refrain from fishing during the breeding season, and consistently implement conservation measures,” he added.
Kalapara Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said there was a drought of hilsa in the sea until recently.
“Now, swarms of hilsa are being caught in the fishermen’s nets. If the rainfall continues, even more hilsa may be caught, which will benefit the fishermen, wholesalers, and everyone associated with the hilsa trade,” Saha said.
