Bangladesh is known as to her citizens as the Sonar Bangla,
Golden Bengal, because of the richness of her land that takes on golden hue
when the rice crop is ready for harvesting. Bangladesh is also known as the
Land of the Royal Bengal Tiger, for the mangrove forests of Bangladesh plays
host to some of the most magnificent specimens of the big cat.
Hilsha |
But, to me, her most cherished treasure is the ilish, or the
Hilsa Shad fish. Hilsa shad, one of the most important tropical fish of the
family clupeidae under the genus Tenualosa and species ilisha is anadromous in
nature, not a common phenomenon in tropical water compared to temperate and
arctic regions, lives in the sea for most of its life, but migrates at least
1,200 km up in some river system in Indian sub-continent for spawning behavior.
Distances of 50-100 km are more typical in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis and Bengalis are noted for their love of fish, and
God could not have rewarded them better than providing her waters with this
most exquisitely delicious fish to titillate the palates of Bangladeshis.
Hilsa shad contributing 30 % of total fish production of
Bangladesh, and about 40 % fishermen or 2 % of total population of the country
earn their livelihood depending on Hilsa fishery directly or indirectly. Therefore
economic contribution from this single species of fish is very high, in an
agricultural based country like Bangladesh.
Three separate species of Hilsa Shad are found in Bay of Bengal,
they are Hilsa kelee, Hilsa toli and Hilsa ilisha now Tenualosa ilisha.
Tenualosa ilisha is considered as anadromous species while the other two
species are restricted to marine environment. And in this report we are dealing
only with anadromous stock.
In the case of Bangladesh, even the fishermen enjoying the current
glut of Hilsa (which has caused the government to lift the winter ban) realize
that this may be too much of a good thing. However, the prospect of a winter
without empty rice bowls and hungry children has largely overcome their
concern.
Hilsa, a national favorite and related to chad, has a mild
flavor like walleye, sunfish or trout. Last year, in season, these popular fish
sold for about $6 per kilo. This year, in the off-season, but also largely
because of the glut, the price is half that.