A welcome surprise

Hilsa is typically not associated with winter. But surprisingly, this year's cold season has brought about a change with that in Barishal, as large hilsa fish are being netted, which have set the division's wholesale markets buzzing.

"There's been a lot of hilsa in the river over the last two-three weeks," said an elated Alauddin Majhi, an angler from Bhola sadar. He said he has caught at least 200 fish in last seven days.

According to Barishal Divisional Fisheries Office, the hilsa is being caught from the Meghna, Arial Kha, Ilisha, Tetulia, Biskhali and other big rivers of the division -- which wasn't seen in the last few years.

During a visit to Port Road Hilsa Mokam, the largest hilsa wholesale market in Barishal, this correspondent got to know that at least four to five hundred of the fish are coming to the market every day. Prices were found to be relatively stable.

Along with large, above one kg hilsas, there's also jatkas below 10 inches, although catching the latter is banned.

Researchers and fisheries officials attributed this to the anglers' use of current nets, along with the fact that mother hilsas have laid eggs recently.

Dr Md Anisur Rahman, principal  scientific officer of Chandpur-based Bangladesh  Fisheries Research Institute, said successful management over the last couple of years, including the establishment of sanctuaries and protection of jatka, has created favourable conditions in the rivers. Last year, more than 51 percent hilsa eggs hatched due to good management.

Asked about the use of illegal current nets, Anisur Rahman Talukder, deputy director of BFDC, said anglers are using them at night. "They're able to do this as we don't have enough human resources to protect the wide estuary and rivers all the time."