Hilsa fishery and its aquaculture possibility in Bangladesh

Abstract

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), generally known as “Ilish” is not only the national fish of Bangladesh but also a symbol of artistic heritage and culinary pride. It holds remarkable importance in the country’s fisheries sector, contributing around 12% of total fish production, over 80% of global Hilsa catch, and nearly 1% of national GDP. Over 500,000 people are directly involved in Hilsa fishery for their livelihood, and nearly 3 million more are indirectly dependent on its value chain, including processing, transportation, retail, etc. The fish is mostly caught in the estuarine and coastal waters of the Bay of Bengal and its adjacent rivers such as the Padma, Meghna, Paiyra, Bishkhali, Baleshwer, Tetulia and Jamuna, where it migrates to spawn during the monsoon season.