As weather turns favorable, fishermen swarm sea to net hilsa

Fishing trawlers started for the sea from Kalapara on Tuesday as weather turned favourable to catch fish.

Patuakhali: As the low pressure subsided and the weather became favorable, between late Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, thousands of coastal fishing trawlers with fishermen rushed to the deep sea in search of hilsa.

On Tuesday (September 17) morning, going to the Mahipur-Alipur fishing landing center, it was seen that many trawlers are staying at the jetty of the landing center. Fuel oil, ice, nets and foodstuffs are being picked up in these trawlers. They hope to return to the ghat with the desired hilsa from the sea.

It is known that this year the fishermen could not catch hilsa as expected due to the 65-day fishing ban and several episodes of hostile weather. Fishermen are forced to return to the shore when the weather worsens due to monsoon and low pressure.

Earlier, thousands of coastal fishermen started fishing from July 24 after the 65-day ban at midnight on July 23. However, they were disappointed as they could not find the desired hilsa even in the full season. The fishermen of the coast crossed the deep sea with chest full of hope. The trawlers will return to the wharf in the next three to four days if they catch fish as expected. But if the fish is less, the trawlers will spend at least 8 to 10 days sea fishing.

Yunus Matubbar, the sailor of the FB Tamanna trawler of Alipur fish port, said, "I spent 10 consecutive days sitting at the ghat. Going to the sea today as the weather is favorable. We hope that a lot of hilsa fish will be caught in the trawler's net."

Another sailor, Eklas Gazi, said, "After 65 days of hilsha ban, the sea was rough due to the influence of monsoon winds. Then there was low pressure in the sea. Due to which I had to spend idle time sitting at the ghat. The weather has been fairly good since yesterday. So I'm going to the sea. I hope the desired hilsa fish will be caught in the net."

Kalapara Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said, "Due to hostile weather, the fishermen were staying at the fishing port. At present, as the weather is favorable, they are going to the sea again. I hope they can overcome their poverty by hunting the desired hilsa." - Gofran Biswas Palash