Chandpur is popularly known as the city of
Hilsa Fish in Bangladesh. The fame of Hilsa of Padma-Meghna River in Chandpur
district is worldwide. Hilsa exploited from different rivers in different
regions of the country are landed in plenty at Chandpur Fish Landing Center.
The present study was conducted from August 2016 to November 2016 in Chandpur
district. The aim of this study is to determine the supply chain analysis of Hilsa
egg and to assess the prospects for effective management and monitoring of this
trade and export potentialities. Primary data were collected from direct
observation through personal interview following a structured questionnaire
with the fishermen, fisher folk, retailer and local transporters. Secondary
data were collected from the daily newspapers of Bangladesh both local and
national. Hilsa eggs are collected from the landed Hilsa fishes that are lower
grade in terms of quality. The eggs are packed in the plastic boxes which are
then stored in large Styrofoam boxes covered with ice and then sold to sea food
companies of Chattagram, Bangladesh. From them, the eggs are exported to
different countries in the world including India, Malaysia, UK, USA, Saudi
Arabia and some European countries. The trade and export channel should be
monitored regularly whether it is done properly or not. Due to its export
potentiality, the authority should give concern on its trade and make a plan
for considering Hilsa egg as a value added product in the country’s market and
abroad.
Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is the single
largest fishery of Bangladesh. It is the national fish of the country and it
makes a huge contribution to the national economy and employment (Haldar,
2001). A Bengali proverb is “Macher raja Ilish” which means “Hilsa is the king
of fish” (Sarker et al., 2016). Hilsa has secured recognition as the second
geographical indication (GI) product of Bangladesh (“Hilsa recognised
Bangladesh’s,” 2017).
Hilsa contributes about 12% to the total fish
production and 1% to GDP. About 2% of the total population of the country is
directly or indirectly involved in the fishery for their livelihood (DoF, 2018).
Hilsa catches in Bangladesh represent about 60% of global hilsa production
while remaining part comes from mainly India and Myanmar (Hossain, 2014).
Hilsa is a widely distributed clupeid species
inhabiting the coastal waters mainly from Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and
ascending most of the estuaries, rivers and brackish water lakes of
Indo-Pacific faunistic region for spawning purpose (De, 2001).
Hilsa is caught and landed throughout the
year, the majority of landing (60-70%) is found during the peak breeding season
(September-October). In this season, about 60-70% hilsa are found to be
sexually mature and ripe (Rahman et al., 2009). Hilsa is a highly fecund fish
that may produce up to 2 million eggs (Rahman et al., 2017). The upstream
migration during the main breeding season depends largely on the commencement
of the Southwest monsoon and consequent flooding of the major rivers of Iran,
Bangladesh, Burma and India (Roomiani et al., 2014).
Chandpur is popularly known as the city of
Hilsa in Bangladesh. The fame of Hilsa of Padma-Meghna River in Chandpur
district is worldwide. Hilsa exploited from different rivers in different regions
of the country are landed in plenty at Chandpur Fish Landing Center which is
one of the biggest Hilsa landing centers in the country. Because of both
tastiness and nutritional quality of Hilsa egg, the demand of Hilsa egg is good
both in the country and abroad. Hilsa eggs are collected from Chandpur, and
then transported to Chattagram and from there exported to abroad.
Neither research work has been done nor is
relevant literature found on Hilsa egg trade in Bangladesh. The aim of this
study is to determine the supply chain analysis of Hilsa egg and to assess the
prospects for effective management and monitoring of this trade and export
potentialities.
