Odisha fishermen catch ‘bumper’ Hilsa fish

Odisha: Recent rains due to low pressure led to the catch of several quintals of Hilsa fish in fishing nets at Digha Beach, earning bumper earnings for fishermen. Hilsa is being sold in large quantities in local fish markets at Bhograi border of Digha coast in Balasore district of Odisha. In the last few years, the catch of Hilsa fish has not been up to expectations, leading to disappointment among trawler owners and fishermen. Even after the onset of monsoon this year, Hilsa fish did not come to the fishermen of the region. However, in the last two days, fishermen have got good rewards with a large catch of Hilsa fish.

It is believed that under the influence of the low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, Hilsa fish moved towards the Indian coast from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Sources said that one kilogram of Hilsa fish is selling for Rs 1,000 and sometimes, the price is even less than that. “Ever since it has been raining, the business and profit is good. Fish of different sizes are being sold at different prices ranging from Rs 600, 700 to Rs 1000 per kg. We are doing business every day and we are not facing any kind of problem. The fish which are big in size are being exported to West Bengal,” said Sudhakar Mohanty, a local fisherman from Odisha. Another fisherman Manoj Mohanty said, “Fishermen from Bengal are also coming to buy from us. Even though the supply is plentiful, it is selling out quickly and there is not much discount.”