Kuakata abuzz with fish drying
Kuakata beach is now buzzing with activities of fishermen as six-month-long fish drying season has started on November 1.
Fishermen are engaged in drying fish after catching them from the sea as they face ban on netting jatka during the period.
During the time, around 10,000 people from different areas in two coastal districts are engaged in sea fish drying.
The areas include Kuakata, Sonar Char, Rupar Char, Char Montaz, Moudubi, Fatrar Char and Char Gongamoti in Patuakhali and Nishanbaria, Taltali, Asar Char and Pathorghata in Barguna.
Meanwhile, tourists are showing keen interest in buying the chemical-free fresh shutki (dried fish).
Fishermen keep different species of sea fish like laitta, churi, maitta, kaisha and bhetki on bamboo or wooden platforms for drying in the sun.
It takes three to four days to dry the fish, said fishermen.
Traders from Dhaka, Chattogram and other parts of the country come here to buy the dry fish.
Many people cook the dry fish to make their favourite curry.
Besides, poultry feed and fish feed are made from the dry fish, said Md Nazrul Islam, a dry fish trader at Kuakata in Kalapara upazila.
Abul Hossain from Faridpur said he used to buy the chemical-free dry fish while visiting the beach.
Nazrul Islam Dafadar, a dry fish trader, said he buys fresh fish from local fishermen as they do not use chemical to dry it.
Due to this, traders and tourists are showing keen interest to buy the dry fish, he added.
As day labourers some underaged boys were also seen drying fish in the beach.
Fourth grader Sarwar Hossain, 9, said “I work here six to eight hours a day for Tk 100 to Tk 150 to earn some extra money for my family.”
More and more fishermen are getting engaged in fish drying as it brings good profit, said Shah Alam, a dry fish trader of the area.
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