Reduced ilish supply in Chandpur markets towards the end of the season has pushed prices up by Tk200-300 per kg within a week, with traders attributing the increase to lower supplies from rivers and the sea.
On Friday, October 2, a visit to Chandpur Boro Station Fish Landing Centre found a large number of buyers from different parts of the country. However, fish supplies had declined somewhat, with 1kg ilish selling for Tk2,500-2,600, 700-800g ilish for Tk2,000-2,200 per kg and 400-500g ilish for Tk1,500.
Shabe Barat Sarker, general secretary of Chandpur Boro Station Fish Traders Cooperative Society, said ilish supply had been comparatively low from the beginning of the current season.
He said: “Supply increased somewhat last month, bringing the price of ilish down to Tk2,100-2,200 per kg. However, supply has declined again over the past few days. Around 25 maunds of ilish arrived at Boro Station Fish Landing Centre on Friday, which is very low compared to demand. As a result, prices have increased by Tk200-300 per kg.”
Trader Alam Khan said a 22-day ban to protect mother ilish will begin on October 8. Many fishermen who went to sea have already started returning, so he does not expect supplies to increase or prices to fall in the coming days.
Abdur Rahman, a fisherman from Baharia in Chandpur, said very little ilish is now being caught in the rivers of Chandpur.
He said: “Although the presence of fish increased for a few days, we have to pack up our nets and boats before the ban. However, we will not go to the river during the government ban to protect mother ilish.”
Another fisherman from the same area, Sarwar, said it had become difficult to run his household as catches had declined.
He said: “It has become difficult to run the household because fewer fish are being caught. Although expenses have increased, we are not getting fish accordingly.”
District Fisheries Officer Fakhrul Islam said preparations had been completed to enforce the 22-day ban from October 8 to October 29 to protect mother ilish.
He said the period had been considered important for ilish breeding based on research, prompting the ban.
Ice factories will remain closed for the 22 days of the ban, and no dredging machines will be allowed to operate in the rivers, he said. Special monitoring will also be maintained to prevent fishermen from outside Chandpur from fishing in the rivers.
He also said there were plans to close the mouths of 8-9 important canals in the sanctuary areas. Police would set up checkpoints on important roads, while quick response teams would remain ready to take immediate action if any problems arose during operations.
