Hilsa catch in the country was rising before the 2020-21 fiscal year but has fallen steadily since. Production has dropped by more than nine per cent over the past four years, which is why hilsa prices are not falling in the market this time either.

The figures were given at a press conference at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Monday (29 September) on the availability, prices and overall situation of hilsa across the country. The ministry's adviser, Farida Akhter, spoke.

"Though I wished to, I could not let people eat hilsa cheaply this time. Production was naturally low again. I express my regret. Despite good intentions, I could not do many things," the adviser said.

The press conference was told that after the ban on catching jatka ended in mid-June 2025, hilsa availability in the market had been expected to rise. That did not happen.

Citing Department of Fisheries data, the adviser said hilsa catch in July and August this year was 33.20% and 47.31% lower respectively than in the same months of 2024. Total catch in these two months was 35,993.50 tonnes, 22,941.78 tonnes or 38.93% less than in 2024.

Overall, the hilsa catch declined steadily from 2020-21 to 2024-25. Total catch was 565,183 tonnes in 2020-21 and 512,858 tonnes in 2024-25, a fall of 52,325 tonnes or more than nine and a quarter per cent.

According to the ARIMA (2.2.1) model of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, hilsa production in 2024-25 could be 538,000 to 545,000 tonnes. But if the declining trend continues, actual production could be even lower, the press conference was told.

The press conference was told there are some important reasons behind the fall in hilsa production in the sea and rivers. Both the sea and rivers are essential to the fish's life cycle: mature mother hilsa move from the sea through estuaries into freshwater rivers to spawn, and the larvae grow and return to the sea to mature. Most of the national production comes from Barishal division, which contributes more than 85% of the total every year.

Keeping natural migration routes such as the Meghna-Tetulia estuary intact is vital for sustainable hilsa production. The estuaries between Bhola and Noakhali and between Bhola and Patuakhali are considered the largest breeding and migration routes. But there are countless chars and submerged chars in these estuaries, many of them 20 to 30 years old. They lie four to five cubits under water at high tide and emerge at low tide, challenging navigability and the breeding environment. Because of silt on submerged chars, river depth varies from half a foot to 75 feet from sea level, clear evidence of a navigability crisis.

One of the main obstacles is the use of illegal nets and fixed trap nets. Use of current nets, mosquito nets, trap nets and others has increased, catching huge numbers of jatka. These nets are completely banned under the Fish Protection and Conservation Act 1950 (amended 2020). To enforce the law, district administrations, the fisheries department, the Navy and the Coast Guard run joint drives and seize large amounts of illegal nets and jatka, but it has not been possible to stop illegal fishing completely.

From 1 May to 23 September the Bangladesh Coast Guard carried out 17,374 operations and detained 631 fishermen. It seized 117 crore 38 lakh metres of various illegal nets, 479,000 behundi nets, 113,000kg of jatka, 28 boats and 161 trawling boats. These drives saved 370,365 tonnes of fish with a market value of about Tk 18,518.25 crore.

Overall, the fall in hilsa catch is the result of both natural and man-made causes. Environmental changes in inland waters, especially unplanned dams, culverts and bridges on rivers, silt carried from upstream, loss of navigability and water pollution, are considered the main obstacles. As a result hilsa migration routes, breeding grounds and feeding grounds are changing and being damaged, reducing hilsa availability in the country's rivers. Indiscriminate use of harmful nets and fishing by unplanned mechanised vessels are also key causes. Inter-ministerial action is needed to solve these problems, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will take the initiative immediately, the press conference was told.

Bangladesh exported significant amounts of hilsa in 2010-11 and 2011-12. In 2010-11, 8,538.77 tonnes were exported, earning Tk 352.49 crore, and the next year 6,173.65 tonnes earned Tk 294 crore in foreign exchange. Exports stopped on 31 July 2012 because of a ban by the Ministry of Commerce.

From 2019-20, limited and conditional exports of hilsa to India began for Durga Puja, carried out only with Ministry of Commerce approval. But because of low availability, exporters have not always been able to ship the approved amount. For example, although exports of 1,200 tonnes to India were approved for Durga Puja 2025, only 81.438 tonnes were exported through Benapole land port from 16 to 25 September.

In 2020-21 the approved amount was 1,875 tonnes and actual exports were the same, worth Tk 154 crore. The next year approval was for 4,600 tonnes but actual exports were 1,211 tonnes, worth Tk 113 crore. The year after, 3,000 tonnes were approved but 1,376 tonnes were exported, worth Tk 148 crore.

In 2023-24, against approval of 3,550 tonnes, actual exports were 665 tonnes, worth Tk 85 crore. The following year 2,420 tonnes were approved but actual exports were 574 tonnes worth Tk 68 crore. In the latest year, 2025-26, exports against approval of 1,200 tonnes are ongoing.

The Ministry of Commerce has set the export price of hilsa at $12.50 a kg. On 25 September the dollar's buying rate was Tk 121.72. On that basis, the 81,438kg of hilsa exported to India through Benapole up to then had a market value of Tk 12,39,07,917. Separately, 22.26 tonnes were exported through Akhaura land port from 18 to 24 September, with a current market value of Tk 3 crore 38 lakh 154.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.