Large hilsa are being sold in Patuakhali's markets during the ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal, imposed to increase fish production and stocks. Sellers say the fish come from local rivers, most of them caught in the Payra.

On Tuesday evening (18 June), four or five sellers were displaying hilsa of various sizes at the New Market fish market in Patuakhali town. Most of the fish weighed between 900 and 1,100 grams.

Sellers said they were selling hilsa of over one kilogram at Tk 1,600 a kg, and fish of 800–900 grams at Tk 1,500 a kg.

Seller Bosir Ahmed said that since all fishing in the sea was banned, all the fish on sale came from the Payra river, where fairly good-sized hilsa were now being caught. With it being the day after Eid, there were somewhat fewer buyers. Hilsa that sold for Tk 2,000 last week was now going for Tk 1,600, he said.

With sea fishing halted, the market has come to depend largely on farmed fish. Pangas, tilapia, koi, shing and rui-type fish were most plentiful that day.

Sajid Hossain Shaon, a buyer at New Market, said that because sea fishing was banned he could be fairly sure the fish came from the river. He also liked the colour of the fish, and as they were fresh he bought one at Tk 1,600 a kg.

The 65-day ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal began on 20 May and will end on 23 July.

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