Kolkata: Twin festivals, floods send fish prices through the roof

KOLKATA: Fish prices have soared in city markets following a spurt in demand due to twin festivals this week and hiccups in supply owing to flood situation in coastal regions.
Demand for fish has increased due to Vishwakarma Puja and Arandhan festival, commonly known as Ranna Puja, when fish, particularly hilsa, is in high demand.

Prices of most of fish varieties have increased by Rs 100 a kg, while in case of hilsa it has gone up by Rs 200-300 a kg in the last two days.“The rise in fish prices is due to a yawning gap between supply and sudden spike in demand. The supply line is badly hit by the flood in the coastal areas. There is more than 3 days delay in supply,” said Amar Das, a fish trader at Lake Market.
The hilsa of the size of 800-900 gm which was selling at Rs 1,700 a kg a week ago, is now selling at Rs 1,900-2,000 a kg. The price of parshe has also risen by Rs 150 a kg. But the prices are only because of the Arandhan festival and Vishwakarma puja. Hopefully, the prices will be sobered within the next three or four days.
“We had a tough time buying hilsa. The prices suddenly soared to an unaffordable height. But having hilsa in the Arandhan festival is a long tradition. So, we bought a medium size one burning a big hole in the pocket,” said Sheli Dasgupta, a housewife.
One of the big reasons behind the demand-supply gap is the absence of the supply line from Basirhat, Canning, Sandeshkhali and Basanti where fisheries were washed away during Yaas. Supply from these fisheries will take another six to nine months to resume, said an official of fisheries department.
The steady supply of smuggled hilsa from Bangladesh had sobered prices of majority of the varieties. But, torrential rain caused flooding and poorer roads started causing delays in supply from Odisha and Andhra, two states on which fish-loving Bengal is somewhat dependent.
Meanwhile, because of the demand, the juvenile hilsa from Kakdwip has started flooding markets. “Despite repeated warnings, fishermen are committing Harakiri by catching juvenile hilsa with fine nets. This will have a detrimental effect on the lives of the fishing community,” said Bijon Maity of Kakdwip Fishermen’s Association.