Hilsa abundantly caught in the Bay are being sold in a popular Chattogram city fish market – fisheryghat. One such fisherman is selling fresh hilsa just unloaded from a boat arriving from the Bay of Bengal on Saturday. The catch is only a drop in the ocean compared to the total 5 lakh ton hilsa catch in the country in 2017-18. Thanks to the introduction of a 22-day hilsa fishing ban which protects mother hilsa while allowing the growth of juvenile hilsa. Every year during the hilsa breeding months, normally between September and October, it is illegal to catch juvenile or mother hilsa.
The ban in 37 coastal districts, on hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, was introduced in 2011 by the government to protect fragile hilsa stocks. Very popular ‘shorshe Ilish’ or mustard cooked hilsa dish is traditionally served to celebrate special occasions especially the Hindu community who observe Durga Puja. Each (1000 gram) such as fresh hilsa cost between Tk 1000 and 1200 in Chattogram which fetches close to Tk 1500 and 1800.
