Kolkata: Good hilsa catch to bring prices down

KOLKATA: Here’s some good news for the

hilsa-crazy Bengalis

. Fishermen in Kakdwip have returned with a handsome catch of 13 tonnes. The fresh catch will bring down the price as they make their way into city markets. The price could have fallen further had there been no middlemen who are hoarding large-sized

hilsa

, alleged a section of traders.

Till now, bad weather had hindered arrival of hilsa as trawlers were unable to dock at Kakdwip or Diamond Harbour. “With successive days of heavy rain, we had to suspend fishing for about 12-14 days. But with the intensity of rains decreasing, over 200 trawlers have docked with a record catch of Hilsa since Thursday,” said Bijon Maity of the Kakdwip Fishermen’s Association.

Steady rain and easterly wind apart, fishermen say water is now flowing towards the Kakdwip coast and not in the direction of Bangladesh as earlier. “Hence, hilsa is being netted over a vast stretch — right from Sagar Islands to the southern tip of Sandheads,” said Maity.

Retail hilsa traders in city markets, however, say after the fish lands in Kakdwip, only 20% of the larger variety — 800 grams to 1 kg — reaches them. “The rest is being stored in cold storages to be released later. Hence, the average consumer is not really getting a steady supply of large hilsa for lack of supply in the city,” said Gour Saha of Gariahat Market. Amar Das, a hilsa retailer in Lake Market, echoed: “Though the large variety is in short supply, enough of the fish weighing 500-600 grams is now available in the market. Prices have declined by about Rs 50-60 in city markets.”

Asked about wholesellers preferring to stock up larger hilsa instead of releasing them to the retail trade, state fisheries minister Chandrakanta Sinha said, “Yes, I have received reports that hilsa weighing 800 grams to 1 kg is being stocked up in private cold storages. We are monitoring the supply chain. If necessary, we will seek police help to curb hoarding. But we have reports that more trawlers will reach Kakdwip and Diamond Harbour. This will increase supply further and push down prices even more.”

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