Hilsa: The end of fish diplomacy between India and Bangladesh?

Bangladesh is the leading producer of hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), a kind of species of fish related to the herring, abundant in the Bay of Bengal and also thriving in rivers.

The fish accounts for about 12% of the country’s total fish production and contributes around 1% to its GDP. Fishermen catch up to 600,000 tonnes of the fish annually, the majority of the haul coming from the sea. In 2017, hilsa was recognised as a geographical Indicator, external for the country.

In past years, the government permitted the export of 3,000-5,000 tonnes of hilsa annually during Durga Puja, senior fisheries official Nripendra Nath Biswas told The Daily Star, external newspaper.

“But considering the scarcity of fish in the country, the government has decided to impose a ban on hilsa exports this year,” he said.

But Bangladeshi media reports indicate that hilsa prices have surged in the local market despite the export ban.

A 1.5kg hilsa was selling for around 1,800 taka ($15; £11.50), 1.2kg for 1,600 taka, and one kg for 1,500 taka. These prices are 150-200 taka higher than last year, say traders.

Fishermen attribute the price increase to poor catches. “In the past three months, we tried to go to sea five times but had to turn back due to rough weather,” said Hossain Miah, a fisherman.