Fishermen in Kuakata Land Massive Catch of Hilsa Worth Over 4.8 Million Taka
Photo Collected
Fishermen in Patuakhali have reported a significant catch after netting 46 maunds of Hilsa in the Bay of Bengal, near Kuakata. The haul, sold at auction for 4.85 million taka, has brought a rare sense of optimism to a coastal community recently plagued by declining yields.
The catch was brought in by the fishing trawler FB Junaid, owned by Alamgir Majhi, who was aboard during the expedition. According to Majhi, the crew secured the Hilsa near the final buoy of Payra Sea Port last Thursday. The vessel docked at the Mahipur fishing port on Friday afternoon, where the entire catch was sold at the Monowara Fish depot.
Majhi described the event as a welcome reprieve, noting that it had been five years since he experienced such a substantial single haul. The catch consisted of approximately 2,200 fish, which he believes will help offset the financial losses his business has suffered in recent seasons.
Manager of the Monowara Fish depot, Sagir Akon, provided a breakdown of the transaction. The haul included 24 maunds of Hilsa weighing one kilogram or more, which sold for 115,000 taka per maund, totaling 2.76 million taka. The remaining 22 maunds, consisting of fish weighing between 800 and 900 grams, sold for 95,000 taka per maund, totaling 2.09 million taka. Akon noted that current market prices for Hilsa are significantly higher than in previous years, ensuring the fishermen received a premium return.
While the windfall is a positive development for the local economy, experts urged caution regarding the state of Hilsa stocks. Bakhtiar Rahman, a research assistant for the Shustho Sagar project—a collaborative initiative by WCS and WorldFish—stated that while this catch provides hope for individual fishermen, it does not necessarily indicate a broader trend of abundance. He emphasized that long-term scientific data is required to assess the health of the population and that the success of the industry remains dependent on strict adherence to conservation measures and protection of the breeding season.
Apu Saha, the senior fisheries officer for Kalapara Upazila, noted that despite a recent general decline in Hilsa landings, consistent catches are still being reported across the region. He expressed optimism that increased rainfall in the coming days may lead to further improvements in fish availability, benefiting local fishermen and traders alike.
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