Scarce hilsa spells hardship for Meghna fishermen amid peak season

Hilsa catch has remained unusually low in the River Meghna in Lakshmipur’s Ramgati and Kamalnagar upazilas despite the peak monsoon season, leaving thousands of fishermen and others dependent on the fishing trade in distress.

The Meghna is usually bustling with fishing activity during this period, with fishermen spending days in the river expecting a good catch. But recently, many are returning with only a small quantity of fish, while some boats are coming back empty-handed.

Fishermen said they are incurring heavy expenses on fuel, workers’ wages, ice and food for each fishing trip. With the catch falling far short of expectations, many are struggling to cover their operating costs and are increasingly relying on loans.

A visit to several fishing ghats, including Ramgati fish ghat, Alexander Centre Ghat and Boyarchar Bridge Ghat, found little large-sized hilsa in the markets. Hilsa weighing 250-300 grams is selling for Tk1,500-2,000 per kg, while 300-500 gram fish are priced at Tk2,500-3,000 per kg. Hilsa weighing more than 500 grams is rarely available.

Fishermen said some of the hilsa available in the markets have been brought from the sea. Buyers, however, generally prefer Meghna hilsa, which they consider tastier. The low supply of river hilsa has also reduced activity among fish traders, wholesalers, ice sellers, transport workers and other people dependent on the fishing economy.

According to the upazila fisheries offices, Kamalnagar has 14,098 registered fishermen and Ramgati has 20,360, bringing the total number of registered fishermen in the two upazilas to 34,458.

Fishermen said fishing restrictions and adverse weather prevent them from fishing for a significant part of the year. They usually expect a good catch when they return to the river after the fishing ban, but the shortage of hilsa this season has dashed those hopes.

Alexander Centre Ghat fisherman Hasim Majhi said fishing families were struggling because of the poor hilsa catch. “Besides hilsa, other fish are also becoming scarce in the river,” he said.

Another fisherman, Nizam Uddin, said a fishing trip requires a large investment.

“It costs more than Tk2 lakh to take a boat to the river. If we fail to catch hilsa, we have to borrow money at high interest to cover the expenses. Now we are unable to catch enough fish even after staying in the river all day,” he said.

Local fishermen called for regular research into hilsa migration and breeding patterns and greater involvement of fishermen in collecting information on fish movement. They also urged the authorities to ensure effective enforcement of fishing bans, prevent the use of illegal nets and unplanned fishing, and provide alternative employment opportunities for fishermen during fishing restrictions.

Ramgati Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md Sourav Uz Zaman and Kamalnagar Fisheries Officer Turya Saha said the poor hilsa catch was causing concern among fishermen and could negatively affect the local economy.

They said the Meghna has many underwater channels and depressions that may affect hilsa movement into the river. They expressed hope that the hilsa catch would improve as the monsoon progresses.