Government initiatives are helping to increase sea fish export from the country. Comparing to the previous year, sea fish export rose by 1.5 times from Cox’s Bazaar alone.
To ensure smooth breeding of sea fish, the government, for the first time, imposed a fishing restriction on the sea. After the restriction period, fishermen continue to net huge amount of fish.
Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, Cox’s Bazaar showed that after meeting local and domestic demand, 75 tonnes of sea fish were exported last year and this year the amount stood at 125 tonnes, which is 1.5 times higher than the previous year.
Officials of sea fish export organisations informed that there are more than 5000 small and medium fishing trawlers, which bring their catch to Chattogram Port to export. After collecting fish from the sea, they are picked, cleaned, numbered, packaged and stored in a high-powered blast refrigerator.
Later, after proper examination by the Department of Fisheries, exemptions are issued for export. The fish are then exported from Chittagong to China, South Korea and other countries of the world by ship.
According to local fish traders, Rupchanda, Cattle Fish, Stout, Crabs, Shrimps and other varieties enjoy good demand abroad. Officers and employees of the local fisheries development corporation pass busy time each day to conduct the whole process of exporting.
Fisheries and Marketing Center Manager Mohammad Ihsanul Haq said, as the government imposes a temporary ban on fishing, sufficient sea fish grew during this period. As a result, when the fishing restriction is over, fishermen net abundant sea fish.
According to fish experts, if fishermen obey the government restriction on fishing every year, in the coming years they will get huge sea fish which will increase the export volume also.
This will not only fetch foreign currencies in large amounts, it will maintain the economic growth and help in employment opportunities.