A hilsa weighing one kilogram 800 grams has been caught in the net of a fisherman named Sunu Gazi at Kuakata in Patuakhali. He later sold the fish for Tk 5,625.

The report also names the fisherman as Sunu Majhi of the Gangamati area of Kuakata. The hilsa came up in his net at sea on the morning of Thursday 14 August. When he brought it to the Kuakata Mayor Bazar, a trader named Nasir Uddin bought it at auction.

Fish trader Nasir Uddin said: "The fisherman caught the fish off the shore of the Bay of Bengal and brought it to market. Hilsa this big are now caught very rarely. I bought it hoping for a little profit and will sell it as soon as I can make a small gain."

Fisherman Sunu Gazi said: "There are very few big hilsa in the sea, but the fish I got is very big, so I was able to sell it for a high price. Even without getting many fish, I am happy with what Allah has given."

Apu Saha, senior fisheries officer of Kalapara upazila, said big hilsa bring good news for fishermen. Along with deep-sea fishermen, coastal fishermen are now also getting big hilsa. The amount is increasing day by day, and he hoped hilsa numbers would rise in the coming days.

Checks at several fish markets in the upazila found that although the hilsa shortage has started to ease, prices are sky-high. That day hilsa over a kilogram sold at Tk 2,500–3,250 a kg; 800–900g fish at Tk 1,875–2,000; 600–700g fish at Tk 1,750–1,900; 500–600g fish at Tk 1,000–1,200; 300–500g fish at Tk 1,200; and jatka at Tk 650.

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