Bangladesh, long celebrated as one of the world's largest consumers and exporters of hilsa fish, is now turning to India's Gujarat state to meet rising demand for the prized freshwater species. The shift comes amid alarming declines in hilsa catches within Bangladeshi waters, forcing importers to seek alternative supply chains across the border.
Gujarat's coastal regions, particularly areas around the Gulf of Kutch and the Sabarmati river system, have emerged as unexpected suppliers to a market that historically relied on its own捕获 from the Bay of Bengal and the mighty Padma river.
Fishermen and traders in Gujarat report that orders from Bangladeshi buyers have increased significantly over the past two years. The hilsa, known locally in Gujarat as "chanda" or "ilish," commands premium prices in both domestic and international markets. A single kilogram of fresh hilsa can fetch between 800 and 1,200 rupees depending on the season, with export-grade fish carrying even higher valuations.
The decline in Bangladeshi hilsa production has been documented by multiple fisheries research organizations. Environmental scientists point to several contributing factors: pollution in major rivers such as the Ganges and Brahmaputra tributaries, construction of dams that block traditional migration routes, rising water temperatures altering spawning patterns, and unsustainable fishing practices during breeding seasons. Some estimates suggest that hilsa catches in Bangladesh have fallen by nearly 40 percent compared to levels recorded two decades ago.
Indian authorities in Gujarat have responded by attempting to bolster local hilsa populations through artificial breeding programs and stricter enforcement of seasonal fishing bans. However, the demand from across the border provides an economic incentive that supports the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities who depend heavily on this commercially valuable species.
Trade officials note that the hilsa import route from Gujarat to Bangladesh typically moves through land checkposts in western Bangladesh, with much of the catch transported by refrigerated vehicles to meet the fresh-product requirements of buyers in Dhaka and other major cities.
The situation highlights an unusual reversal in regional fish trade dynamics, where a country once famous for hilsa exports now finds itself on the receiving end of cross-border commerce driven by ecological pressures at home.
