Paradip: A huge haul of Hilsa fish from deep sea off Pradip coast in Jagatsinghpur district in the last two days has changed the fortune of a fisherman.
Normally, Hilsa, a delicacy among fish lovers, is available for three months from July to September during rainy season in this part of the country. The fishermen set the net to catch Hilsa at the confluence of Paradip where these fish come for laying eggs during this time.
Though the Hilsa is procured in huge quantity from Paradip sea coast during rainy season, those normally weigh 200 gm to 800 gm each and costs Rs 2,000 to 3,000 per kg. But there has been a drastic fall in availability of Hilsa in Pradip for the last three years as the fish has been avoiding its coast for breeding due to climate change and other factors.
On Friday, four boats of Subhadra Amma Tat Babu had sailed for fishing in the sea. The fishermen spotted shoals of fish in deep sea and cast the net. Overnight, they hauled 18 ton of Hilsa and brought those to Baliplot. Five more boats went to the spot on Saturday and returned with 20 ton of Hilsa.
[Watch] Untimely Haul Of Hilsa Changes Fisherman’s Fortune In Odisha’s Paradip – YouTube
Unlike seasonal Hilsa, this time those are of bigger size and weigh 1 kg to 2 and a half kg. Though the Hilsa now costs less and will fetch Rs 800 to 1,000 per kg, the boat owner will have a turn of luck as he would become a crorepati overnight.
Since there is not much demand for Hilsa of so big size, the fishermen have decided to export those to West Bengal and other states. In order to make a killing, the traders have also bought the Hilsa to keep those in cold storage to sell in rainy season at a high cost.
Meanwhile, as the news of Hilsa haul spread, other fishermen of Paradip have made a beeline to deep sea with expectation of netting the fish.
