Chandpur The City of Hilsa Fish

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.