The price of hilsa has dropped slightly as the fishermen are netting plenty of fish in different river estuaries, including the Bay of Bengal.

The sale also gained momentum in the retail markets as the price of the delicious fish declined slightly.

Many consumers were buying more than one hilsa from the kitchen markets in the last few days due to the price drop ahead of the 22-day ban on catching, selling, storing and transporting hilsa.

August and September is the peak netting time in most river estuaries across the country as a large number of hilsa start to swim towards fresh water from the sea during this time.

Fishermen have been netting huge quantities of hilsa from different river estuaries including the Bay of Bengal over the past few weeks, pocketing a good profit.

Dr M Anisur Rahman, a Hisla Researcher at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), told the Daily Sun that August, September and October is the peak time for hilsa migration, a large number of hilsa migrate from the sea to the freshwater during this time.

“Hilsa usually move during and after the full moon and new moon. September 25 was the new moon when a large flock of hilsa might have swum upstream,” he said, adding that rain also brings hilsa.

Hilsa netting will also increase during October 3-4-5 as there is a neap tide on October 10, he added.

Fishermen of Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Chittagong and other coastal areas are pocketing good profits, as a good number of the fish are being netted from the rivers.

On Sunday, a Hilsa weighing 1.5 kg was selling at Tk 1500 per kg, one kg at Tk 1,000-1,100 per kg, an 800-gram one was selling at Tk 700; 600 gram at Tk 700 per piece and a 500-gram hilsa was selling at Tk 400 per piece at Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the capital. The price is, however, changing every day.

Naimul Haque, a buyer at the market, told the Daily Sun that he usually waits for this time as the hilsa price drops during this peak netting time.

“I have bought 5 hilsa weighing around 800 grams each, four weighing around 1 kg each and five hilsa weighing about 600 grams each,” he said, adding that the price has dropped slightly.

Md. Munna, a hilsa trader at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said the supply of hilsa has increased in the last two weeks, also causing a fall in price.

However, many consumers alleged that some businessmen were also hoarding hilsa to make extra profit.

The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling, storing and transporting hilsa from October 7 to 28, to ensure the safe spawning of the national fish during its peak breeding period.

Hilsa production in Bangladesh was 5.65 lakh tonnes in FY 2020-21 and 5.50 lakh tonnes in FY 2019-20.

The country’s hilsa production has increased due to the government’s different initiatives that included a temporary ban on fishing and livelihood support for the fishermen.

Hilsa production has increased from 199,032 tonnes in 2002-03 to 496,417 tonnes in 2016-17.

According to government data, production of the silverfish stood at 517,000 tonnes in 2017-18, up from 279,189 tonnes in 2006-07. In 2014-2015, the production was 387,211 tonnes.

Of the total hilsa production, 2.51 tonnes came from inland and 3.14 tonnes from marine catches, according to the Fisheries Statistical Report of Bangladesh.