Abundance of indigenous freshwater fish species in the markets and rivers across the country brings relief to fish consumers.
The fish markets of the country are now full of different species of native fish extracted from rivers, canals, haors and beels.
There are also many different species of fish in the sea. Especially the big pangas extracted from Tetulia and Chandramohan rivers are attracting the buyers.
Various species of native fish are also being found in the small and big hat-bazaars of the country. The delicious and nutritious fishes that are being found a lot include koi, magur, shing, tengra, puti, mala, shoal, boal, veda, baim, shrimp, taki, chapila, air, pabda and chanda.
These fishes are being caught due to enough water in canals, beels, haors and rivers. The price is also a bit lower as the supply of local fish increases in the market.
On the other hand, fishermen are also happy to get a lot of local fishes. It is learned that there has been a lot of rain in the country this season. Due to the increase in water in canals, beels and rivers, more fishes are being found. Other people, including fishermen, are also now busy with fishing in the villages. They are selling fishes in the local markets also.
Some fishermen cheerfully said that they are fishing more with nets every morning and afternoon.
This time a lot of local fish is being caught in the Hakaluki haor known as the largest freshwater wetland of the country. Fishermen are catching delicious local fish like tengra, pantasi, chela, mowa, chata khailsa and chapila.
According to sources from various markets of the country, fishermen are busy fishing in different areas. In addition to professional fishermen, amateur fish hunters are also running with various traps in rivers, canals, haors and beels.
They are catching various native fishes including Chela, Mowa, Tengra, Puti, Rayek, Khalisa, Koi, Shing, Magur, Taki, Bele, Shrimp, Boal, Shoal, Guchi, Baim, Rui, Katla and Mrigel. Few freshwater queen fish (Rani fish) are also available in small quantities.
However, at one time more than a hundred species of native fish were produced in the country’s rivers, canals, haors and beels. Indigenous fish are getting lost due to various reasons including use of more fertilizers and pesticides on the land, digging of ponds everywhere and construction of installations. In the meantime, many species of fish have become extinct.
Talking to some fishermen, it is learned that they are getting different types of native fish as there were more floods this year. Many people said that two or three kg fish is being caught every hour in their nets. Besides, amateur fishermen are catching a lot of fishes using bamboo traps.
It is learned that indigenous species of rivers, canals and other types of sea fishes have been sold at a wholesale price of Tk 150 to Tk 500 per kg. Of these, a significant amount of pangash fish comes from various local rivers. The size of the Pangash is also quite large this year.
Each pangash weighs 3 to 6 kg. A large Pangash is being sold at Tk 400 to Tk 500 per kg. The native powa fish of the river has been sold at a price of Tk 150 to Tk 220 per kg depending on the size. Shrimp is also cheaper than before. At present, medium size shrimps are sold at 300 to 400 taka per kg.
Sheikh Ripon, organizing secretary of the Barisal District Fisheries Storekeepers Owners Association, said that in the beginning of winter, there is a rush to catch fish in ponds, ditches and canals in the village. Although hilsa is not found in the river, many fishes of native species are being found in the fishermen's nets. Due to this, the local fish market is full. Among them, large size pangas are found in Chandmohan river and Tetulia river.
Zahirul Islam Sarker, lecturer at Bhukshimoil College on the bank of Hakaluki haor, told the Bangladesh Post that more than a hundred native species of fishes could be found in the vast Hakaluki haor area. Currently, freshwater fish of native species are being lost due to various reasons including occupation of river banks and canals, construction of unplanned roads through beels, digging of ponds, construction of houses, use of excessive pesticides on the land. About 30 species of fish have already become extinct.
