Gourmet delight: Hilsa fish caught from the Mahanadi river in Paradip. Telegraph picture

Paradip, July 21: With yield being abundant, the much-loved hilsa fish is back on the diners’ menu bringing much joy for both fishermen communities and fish lovers.

Last week, 1kg of hilsa was being sold at as high as Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 in Paradip and adjoining marketplaces. The price tag had reached prohibitive proportions. Buying hilsa was a luxury, which the fish lovers could ill-afford. But, the prices have made a nosedive according to the market trend in Paradip since past two days following higher catch.

It has come down to buyers’ affordable range of Rs 200 to Rs 300 a kg.

“It’s good news for the fishermen communities. The return of the seasonal hilsa fish is a bonus for them. Since past three years, hilsa catch had been on a lower side. Those living on fishing wait for the hilsa season to earn the extra sum. But, they were not able to reap additional benefits following low yield. We are hopeful of the fishermen compensating the deficit of the past years,” said district fisheries officer Gyan Ranjan Samal.

The yield was negligible last week. But, it has picked up since past three days. Consequently, the fishermen’s earnings have also multiplied with increase in catch.

“We have skipped fishing today due to bad weather. From tomorrow onwards, we are going to resume hilsa fishing,” said a traditional marine fisherman, Ranjit Majumdar.

“There was 45-day-long fishing ban from April 15 to May 31 in view of the breeding season of Olive Ridley turtles. Though the fishing activity restarted from June, operation has been interrupted on several occasions thereafter due to frequent formation of low pressure. Thus the fishermen communities were lying low. Greater yield from hilsa would be able to do away with the lean phase,” said district wing president of the Odisha State Traditional Marine Fish-workers’ Union Tushar Sardar.

Hilsa is a sensitive fish species. And its breeding ground is mostly concentrated in the confluence of river and oceanic waters. After being bred in fresh water, the fish makes its way to seawater again by undertaking a return journey to the confluence points. They are a variety of high demand fishes in coastal areas as well urban regions of the state and outside.

“Hilsa is now being sold at Rs 200 to Rs 300 a kg depending on its size. The price is expected to stay on the lower side in the coming days. Now, it is within the affordable range of middle class and lower-middle class buyers,” said Paradip-based hilsa trader Ranjit Kumar Behera.

Hilsa-loving gourmets have welcomed the news of the fish’s comeback in high yields. “We savour hilsa curry. Drop in price has given us the opportunity to buy hilsa,” said local resident Himanshu Sekhar Dash.