Off-season surprise on Kol platter: Fresh hilsa from Myanmar, Diamond Harbour floods mkts

Kolkata: At a time, which is usually considered off-season for hilsa, Kolkata's fish markets are witnessing an unusual surge in fresh supply. Traditionally, only limited quantities of frozen hilsa are available at this time of the year, often at steep prices. But this year, both small and large varieties of fresh hilsa are arriving in city markets, largely due to imports from Myanmar and fresh catches from Diamond Harbour.
Traders say 20 tonnes-22 tonnes of fresh hilsa are being flown in from Myanmar on alternate days, each consignment consisting of 800-1,000 cartons, with around 25 kg of fish per carton in assorted sizes.Retail prices vary depending on size. Hilsa weighing between 800 g and less than 1 kg is selling for around Rs 1,200-1,300 per kg. Fish weighing 1-1.2 kg, the most in-demand size, is priced between Rs 1,600 per kg and Rs 1,700 per kg. Hilsa weighing 1.2-1.5 kg is selling for Rs 1,800-1,900 per kg, and this size is also reasonably available. Larger varieties weighing up to 2 kg are fetching even higher rates. Despite the steady inflow, availability remains limited and prices are relatively high.A significant quantity of smaller hilsa, each weighing 400 g-500 g, has also entered the market, most of them sourced from Diamond Harbour. These are primarily being sold in neighbourhoods, such as Behala, Senhati, Baguiati, Kudghat and Kasba, rather than in the city's major wholesale hubs. Satinath Patra, secretary of the Kakdwip Fishing Organisation, said Diamond Harbour was witnessing a good catch, most of them of smaller sizes. "The 400 g-500 g hilsa are more common now. These are largely sold in areas outside central Kolkata. Traders are buying at Rs 550-600 per kg wholesale and selling at Rs 700 per kg," he said.Amar Das, a fish trader at Lake Market, said fresh hilsa had been available for several days. "There has been no complaint about the taste. With other varieties of sea fish not readily available, demand for hilsa is strong. As we have fish, ranging from 800 g to 2 kg, buyers have multiple options," he said. Echoing him, Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Howrah Wholesale Fish Market, said, "These are fresh and tasty fish brought from Myanmar by air on alternate days. Wholesale rates are reasonable, and traders from across the city are coming to procure stocks according to size requirements."Consumers appear pleasantly surprised. Lopamudra Das, a bank employee, said, "It is exciting to find fresh hilsa in this off-season. I bought some and the taste was excellent; it was hard to believe it was unseasonal."