Dhaka: Hilsa fish, called the silver of the Indian Ocean, is going through a difficult time in Bangladesh. The lowest Hilsa production in the last seven years has been recorded in the financial year 2023-24, which has not only worried the fishermen of Bangladesh, but has also put a question mark on the plate of Bengalis across the border in India. The sourness in India-Bangladesh relations after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power has further deepened this concern. Will the famous Hilsa of Padma be able to reach Bengal this monsoon? This question is flashing in the mind of every food lover.
Crisis figures
The latest report of the Fisheries Department of Bangladesh has exposed the seriousness of the situation. According to the Barisal Divisional Fisheries Department, the production of Hilsa declined to 5.29 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2023-24, which is about 42,000 tonnes less than last year’s 5.71 lakh tonnes. This figure is the lowest in the last seven years. According to the report of the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘The Daily Star’, this decline has come when there was a steady increase in Hilsa production from 2018-19 to 2022-23. Starting from 5.32 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, this figure had reached 5.71 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. But now this sudden decrease is surprising everyone.

What do experts say?

Mohammed Abu Kausar Didar, an official of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Center in Chandpur, cited several reasons behind this decline. He said, “The navigation capacity of rivers like Padma and Meghna has decreased rapidly. In many places, the water depth has come down to two to three meters, whereas Hilsa prefers water with a depth of more than five meters.” According to him, the breeding and habitat of Hilsa has been affected due to the reduction in the depth of the rivers. Apart from this, the uncertainty of weather and climate change are also increasing this crisis.

Didar shed light on another important aspect. “Despite government restrictions, some fishermen are catching Jatka (young Hilsa) and fish during breeding period. This illegal fishing is taking a toll on production.” Experts believe that if it remains uncontrolled, the situation may worsen in the coming years.

Effect on ecology

Hilsa is not just a fish, but an integral part of Bangladesh’s economy and culture. It accounts for 12% of the country’s total fish production and 1% of GDP. But its decreasing number is also affecting the ecosystem of the rivers. Environmentalist Shafiq Rahman says, “The scarcity of Hilsa is not only affecting the livelihood of fishermen, but also other river animals. This is a chain reaction, which cannot be ignored.”

Concern of Bengalis

On the other hand, Hilsa lovers of West Bengal in India are upset with this news. Hilsa from Padma is famous for its unique taste and texture, which finds a place in the plates of Bengal every year during monsoon. But the ban on Hilsa export from Bangladesh last year and now the decrease in production have raised questions about its supply. Sudip Mandal, a trader in Kolkata’s fish market, says, “If Padma’s Hilsa does not come, the prices will skyrocket. People can buy Hilsa from Gujarat or Odisha, but everyone feels that difference in taste.”

What is the solution?

Experts believe that strict steps will have to be taken to overcome this crisis. It is necessary to work towards dredging to increase the depth of rivers, strict monitoring of illegal fishing and reducing the effects of climate change. The Bangladesh Fisheries Department has also indicated that it is considering new measures for Hilsa conservation. But the question is whether these steps will be taken in time?

For now, the Hilsa season is approaching. Both Bangladesh’s fishermen and Bengal’s food lovers are looking towards the rivers with hopeful eyes. Will the Padma’s silver shine again this time, or will this crisis deepen? The answer to this will be known only in the coming months.

(The author is an independent environment and food journalist. This article is based on facts and expert opinion.)