Poor hilsa supply makes all fish dearer at Kolkata markets – Times of India

KOLKATA: Poor supply of hilsa to retail markets in the city has pushed up prices, and turned other fish dearer. The price of 1.4kg-2kg hilsa crossed the Rs 2,000 mark to touch Rs 2,400 a kg in some city markets. Significantly, at the end of June and in early July, hilsa is the centre of attraction for fishmongers and dominates fish economics.
“If the hilsa supply is good, the prices of other fish go down significantly. But now the opposite is happening. High prices of hilsa are pushing up the prices of all other varieties,” said Amar Das, a vendor at Lake Market.

“The hilsa available were either smaller in size, weighing 400g-500g, or bigger ones weighing 1,400g or more. All these fish are priced at more than Rs 2,000 per kg. The middle-size hilsa, priced between Rs 900 and Rs 1,100, is missing in the baskets. But it takes a longer time to sell the bigger varieties. People often leave without buying any, fearing they would overshoot their budgets,” said Amar Das, a vendor at Lake Market.
“The desperate fishermen this time went fishing along the border of Bangladesh territory and caught the prize catch,” said Sahadeb Das, a Kakdwip fisherman.
If hilsa of good size is caught, the earnings rise, and the entire economy around the fishing harbour flourishes. But the hiatus of the last two years has left fishermen living hand-to-mouth. “Though this time the catch was 1.5 tonnes compared to 3 tonnes-4 tonnes about five years ago, we are still hopeful our luck will favour us,” said Das.
“The Indian side of Bay of Bengal is largely deserted by hilsa because of rampant fishing of the juvenile variety. Now, the fish keep moving towards Bangladesh, where a juvenile hilsa catcher gets stringent punishment,” said Milan Das, general secretary, DakshinBanga Fishermen’s Forum “The day is not far when we have to see hilsa only in photographs because of the recklessness of fishermen. The taste of hilsa matures when it swims back to sea after laying eggs. But we often catch them with eggs,” said a scientist of Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Kakdwip.
Amrita Roychowdhury, a buyer, said, “I came to Lake Market to check out the type of hilsa and their prices after my grandson wanted to eat one. But the prices were beyond my reach.” Abhaya Das Roy, a buyer at Maniktala market, said, “I paid Rs 2,200 for a fish weighing 1.2kg. But the shape and size of the fish says it will taste great.”
Syed Anwar Maqsood of Importers’ Association Howrah said, “Diamond Harbour’s hilsa has a high wholesale rate and the size is small – around 700g. The biggest hilsa weighs around 1.5kg-2kg and come from Myanmar. These are tastier, bigger and the price is low compared to Diamond Harbour’s hilsa. A few days ago, Bangladeshi hilsa used to come from Agartala to Kolkata. This doesn’t happen now.”