Hilsa price high due to profit-mongers’ greed: Fisheries Minister

The price of hilsa in the market is high due to greed of profit-mongers at different levels, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.

He said this at a press briefing organised on the occasion of the implementation of ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2023’ during the main breeding season on Wednesday.

Asked why the price of hilsa is so high, he said although there is no separate cost in hilsa production the amount of expenses to collect and preserve hilsa is not less. “But the government is giving incentives, we are helping those who help us to harvest hilsa from VGF.”

“Those who harvest hilsa have to use boats, nets, and hire workers. After harvesting the fish the fishers bring those to the landing stations and the locations are changed several times for icing and other processes, some people earn huge profit at different levels. I think the price of hilsa is more than it should be due to their profit,” said the minister.

“In this regard, we have also urged those who are involved in market management, competition commission, and consumer rights. They‍‍`re already doing some work. If they do this more proactively and monitor the market management from the centre of fish harvesting to the marketing, I believe it is possible to bring the price of hilsa to a tolerable level,” he added.

"It is the work of our ministry that those who catch fish, we arrange food for them when the fishing remains prohibited. Those who fish with boats are often supplied with boats.  We often provide them with nets,” he added.