Fishermen prepare for five-month dry-fish season in Sundarbans

KHULNA, Oct 29: Thousands of fishermen are preparing to venture into the Bay of Bengal from October 30 for the five-month dry-fish season in the Sundarban, facing declining fish stocks, piracy and mounting financial risks.

The fishermen will leave their families behind until April 30, braving harsh weather and uncertain catches. Many have borrowed Tk 15 lakh to 20 lakh from moneylenders to prepare their boats and stock provisions for the season.

The Forest Department has set a revenue collection target of Tk 8 crore for this season, up from Tk 7.5 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year. 

Special security measures will be implemented by the department, the Special Response Battalion (SRB) and the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) to protect fishermen and traders from piracy, extortion and abduction.

In Sutarkhali Union in Khulna District’s Paikgachha Upazila, fisherman Moinul Islam and 39 others are preparing to head to sea in a fleet of five boats. Some have borrowed as much as Tk 20 lakh to finance their operations.

Fisherman Sohag Alam said hilsa catches have been poor this season and the presence of Indian fishing boats has prevented them from venturing into deeper waters.

“We are uncertain whether we will get the expected catch this season. Moreover, when we catch a substantial amount of fish, we have to give a portion to pirates. We are worried about the overall situation,” he said.

Fishermen in Sutarkhali, Noakathi, Mahmudkathi, Hetampur, Ramnathpur and Kathipara villages also expressed concern about dwindling fish stocks, maritime security and the growing risks of fishing. Many work under agreements with boat owners, receiving Tk 1.2 lakh to Tk 2 lakh for a five-month trip.

Ashutosh Biswas, 55, of Ramnathpur Village, who has fished at sea for nearly 40 years, said catches have declined considerably. “Previously, we caught a variety of fish, including ribbonfish, seabass, Bombay duck, shrimp, crabs, pomfret, mullet and tuna. Now the quantities are gradually decreasing,” he said.

Md Kamal Uddin Ahmed, a freedom fighter and president of the Dublar Char Fishermen Group, said piracy and extortion have made the industry increasingly risky. Reports that new pirate groups were organising ahead of the season have heightened concerns, he said, adding that traders paid lakhs of taka in extortion during the previous season.

“The dry-fish industry at Dublar Char is not merely a business for a handful of traders. The livelihoods of a large fishing community depend on it,” Ahmed said.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarban East Forest Division, said the department collected about Tk 7.25 crore against a target of Tk 7.5 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The department has met with security agencies to coordinate protection for fishermen, he said. Although several pirate groups have surrendered, some remain active.

Khulna Divisional Forest Conservator Imran Ahmed said fishermen had been advised not to venture into deep waters alone or enter remote forest areas. They were also instructed to keep groups of 15 to 20 boats together at night.

Forest personnel will be deployed at strategic points. Fishermen must bring construction materials from their home areas rather than use forest resources to build temporary shelters, depots or fish-drying platforms. Construction of temporary facilities is scheduled to begin on October 30.

Nistar Ahmed, Commander of SRB-6, said 74 members of six pirate groups had surrendered to the force. A temporary SRB camp is operating at Dublar Char, the area’s largest dry-fish trading centre. The force is conducting intelligence surveillance and coordinating with the BCG, he said.

BCG Media Officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said ships, boats and patrol teams would operate around Dublar Char, Alorkol, Katka and nearby rivers and channels throughout the season. Fishermen and traders facing threats can contact the BCG emergency hotline at 16111.

Sujon said 51 members of six pirate groups have surrendered to the BCG this year, expressing hope that the development would help curb piracy.

The Forest Department estimates that settlements around Dublar Char account for nearly 80% of Bangladesh’s dry-fish production. The four main settlements - Majher Killa, Alorkol, Narkelbaria and Shalar Char - are in the Sharankhola Range of the Sundarban East Forest Division. 

Bangladesh’s maritime area, including its exclusive economic zone in the Bay of Bengal, covers 118,813 square kilometres, according to the Department of Fisheries. Fishing operations are concentrated largely in waters up to 200 metres deep.