Hilsa crisis even in peak season, buyers disappointed with skyrocketing prices

The peak season is underway, but Hilsa is not seen in the markets of Barisal. Even though it is a favorable time for fishing in rivers, canals and the sea, the desired 'Rupali Hilsa' is not available in the market. The prices of whatever is available are so skyrocketing that buying it is nothing but a dream for ordinary buyers.

A visit to Mokam Port Road, one of the largest Hilsa markets in Barisal, showed that although there is some supply, it is completely inadequate. Most of the mobile retailers are focusing on selling farmed fish or other marine fish. Most of the Hilsa that is coming to the market was collected in advance and stored in a frozen state - now it is being sold.

Fish trader Akter Hossain said, "There is almost no fish in the inland rivers now. Earlier, where I alone used to sell 35 to 40 maunds of hilsa every day, now the entire market is not even getting 50 maunds of hilsa. Marine fish are not coming in either. That is why the price has gone out of control."

It is surprising to see the price list of hilsa in the current market:

1.5 kg hilsa: 3,000 taka per kg

1.2 kg hilsa: 2,650 taka per kg

1 kg hilsa: 2,500 taka per kg

LC (800-900 grams): 2,200 taka per kg

Half kg hilsa: 1,600 taka

400 g hilsa: 1,250 taka

300 g hilsa: 1,000 taka

250 g hilsa: 850 taka

In such a situation, many people who come to the market to buy hilsa are returning disappointed. Buyers say, "Where hilsa is supposed to be in everyone's house during the peak season, now they can't even afford to buy a fish as a hobby."

According to experts, climate change, river navigability crisis, overfishing and environmental degradation may be responsible for the hilsa crisis. They have called for timely steps to make hilsa, Bangladesh's national fish, accessible to everyone again.