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Hilsa production likely to hit all time high


Published : 23 Nov 2020 09:13 PM | Updated : 24 Nov 2020 08:13 AM

The hilsa fish production may hit record all time high this year as huge number of mother fishes released eggs during the 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting of the national fish.

More than 51.02 per cent of mother hilsa released eggs during the 22-day ban, showing 2 percent higher than in the last year.

As a result, the total production of hilsa fish may be more and it is expected to surpass all past records in hilsa production this year.

Hilsa production was 5.17 lakh MT in 2017-18, which had an estimated value of around Tk 20,680 crore. This year, the authorities concerned set a target to produce 6 lakh MT hilsa and its market value may be 25 thousand crore taka.

According to the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), hilsa fish lays eggs all year round. However, the highest breeding season of Hilsa is October-November. It is basically based on the full moon of the Bangla month of Ashwin. For this reason, the time of catching hilsa varies from year to year. From October 14 to November 4 this year, there was a nationwide ban on fishing, stocking, trading and transportation of hilsa for 22 days. The ban is fixed based on research data from the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI).

Dr Anisur Rahman, chief scientific officer of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, River Centre Chandpur, who is also an eminent hilsa researcher of the country, however, under his leadership 5 research teams conducted research in different rivers and hilsa sanctuaries including hilsa breeding grounds. Samples and data were collected for 10 days before the prohibition period, 22 days of the prohibition period and 10 days after the prohibition period.

According to the research, one and a half to two percent more mothers have been able to complete hilsa breeding activities this season as compared to last year. This time 51.2% of mothers have laid hilsa eggs, which was 48.92% in 2019, 47.75% in 2018, 46.47% in 2017, 43.45% in 2016, about 37% in 2015 and 38.78% in 2014.

This year, 37,800 crore new hilsas may be added. This Jatka hilsa will grow in the river for five to seven months and go to the sea. When it grows up there, it will return to the sanctuary on the river to lay eggs.

Hilsa researcher Dr Anisur Rahman told the Bangladesh Post that, “research showed that 51.2 per cent of hilsa eggs had been laid this time. Never before have so many hilsa eggs been laid.”

Explaining the reason for the higher egg-laying rate this time, he said that if there is a full moon in late October and the full moon lasts till the first week of November, then good results is obtained in hilsa breeding.

In addition, researchers believe that the benefits are due to the favorable environment at sea, the creation of sanctuaries, new research and strict restrictions during the breeding season.

District Fisheries Officer Asadul Baki told the Bangladesh Post that, "We have patrolled the rivers day and night in collaboration with the district administration, coast guard and police department to make the 22-day Mother Hilsa Sanctuary a success. Moreover, this is the first time that the Air Force and the RAB have joined the Hilsa Conservation Expedition. This year's campaign has been successful as a result of integrated activities. Even after that, some unscrupulous fishermen have caught hilsa in the river.

He further said they also seized nearly 2.5 maunds of hilsa and 600,000 metres of ‘Current Jal’ during their drive.

Although it is learned that the hilsa is the national fish in Bangladesh, but there is very little realistic research on this fish in the country.

However, if a safe place for hilsa is not ensured, fish researchers fear that hilsa will move to the Ayeyarwady basin of Myanmar.