Fishermen Return to Rivers as Bangladesh's Hilsa Supply Faces Strain

Dhaka, October 30: Thousands of fishermen in Bangladesh headed back to the rivers on Friday morning, marking the end of a 22-day government ban on hilsa fishing. The ban, meant to protect the species during its breeding season, ended at 11:59 pm on Thursday. Even so, the sustained fall in hilsa output over the last two years has left many wondering whether supplies will meet the demand.

The Business Standard, a Bangladeshi newspaper, reported on Friday that around 42,000 fishermen from the Chandpur area had restarted fishing in the Meghna and Padma rivers. The report described how fishing families had struggled through several weeks without income before returning to work. The key question now is whether hilsa availability can keep pace with the high demand from the Bengali population.

Hilsa travels from the sea to freshwater rivers to lay its eggs, with most breeding taking place during the monsoon and winter. Because of this cycle, its supply is naturally constrained. Bangladesh stands first in the world for hilsa production. It is also ranked third for inland open water fish catch, fourth for tilapia and fifth for total aquaculture production.

Bangladesh is recognised as one of the world's leading fish producers. In 2023-24, the country generated 5.02 million metric tonnes of fish, with a value of around 20.44 billion dollars. The fisheries sector makes up 2.43 to 2.53 percent of GDP and over 22 percent of agricultural GDP. It supplies nearly 60 percent of the animal protein eaten each day across the country, and it provides a living for an estimated 19 to 20 million people in direct and indirect ways.

Researchers and specialists are growing more concerned about the slide in hilsa production. Earlier in September, a Bangladeshi newspaper examined the reasons for rising hilsa prices and found that both output and catches had steadily declined over the previous two years.

MD Anisur Rahman, who studies hilsa, has demanded a thorough inquiry into the causes of the decline. He said the trends he has observed over the last two years are troubling, and he pointed to both human actions and natural forces as contributing factors. Researchers suggest that the use of extremely fine nets, overfishing, water pollution and underwater sand formations could all be driving the fall in hilsa output.

For Bengalis, hilsa is closely tied to cultural and emotional identity. People living along the Ganga-Padma river belt have a particular affection for the fish, and Bangladeshi hilsa is especially valued. The fish appears prominently in festivals, family functions, weddings and seasonal traditions.

In many homes, eating fresh hilsa is more than a meal. It is a way of reconnecting with culture, identity and cherished memories. The fish has many fine bones, yet its unique taste and the natural oil that gives it a silky texture make it highly prized. Popular preparations include hilsa steamed in mustard, hilsa in a light gravy and fried hilsa. The restriction on fishing during breeding is intended to give the fish enough time to reproduce.

Authorities in hilsa-producing areas conduct seasonal bans, protected zones and monitoring campaigns from time to time. These steps are meant to ensure that mature fish are harvested only after they have spawned. During this year's ban, officials ran large-scale operations and seized big quantities of illegally caught hilsa and fishing nets. The seizures showed that enforcing the ban remains a serious challenge for the administration.

The ban has also taken a toll on fishing livelihoods. Many fishermen say hilsa availability was already lower than they had hoped, and their earnings were not enough to cover family expenses and repay loans.

To cushion fishing families during the restriction, the government provided food assistance and distributed rice to lakhs of households. However, many people described the support as inadequate. The hilsa issue in Bangladesh is therefore not confined to production and supply. It also reflects the difficult balance between conserving the environment and protecting the livelihoods of those who depend on the river.