Huge growth & just 1 subsidiary jv30 Sep 2020 12:02
Fish maw no longer worthless!
tbsnews.net
How much can one kilogram of fish swim bladder earn for you?
The question may sound absurd because buyers at fish markets often prefer to have "worthless" items such as the air bladder, fins etc. of large fish cut out and discarded.
Nevertheless, the question is worth asking, because what you may regard as trash is no longer a negligible item. One kilogram of swim bladders of Koral fish, locally known as Datina Koral, can earn you as much as Tk4,00,000 to Tk5,00,000!
Fish maw trade in Chattogram has gained popularity as it has a big demand in many countries and yields handsome returns for traders. Photo: Minhaz Uddin/TBS
">
Incredible? Not so. Bangladesh exports fish maw and fins to a number of countries, including Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates in Asia, and earns around Tk200 crore per annum, according to the Bangladesh Fish-Maw Business Association.
These countries have a high demand for fish bladders and fins because they provide a rich source of collagen/gelatin that are good for the health. And they also add to the taste of the soup sipped by the people in these countries.
The fish maw business is a growing sector in Bangladesh. Businessmen say that the sector could thrive further if government incentives and easy bank loans were available for them.
Fish maw trade in Chattogram has gained popularity as it has a big demand in many countries and yields handsome returns for traders. Photo: Minhaz Uddin/TBS
">
In Chattogram, a total of 40 enterprises based on the fish maw business have been set up at Fishery Ghat on the bank of the Karnaphuli River. They employ around 300 people to collect fish bladders from fish markets and to process them.
Businessmen say that they can sell the swim bladders of Indian Salmon for up to Tk100,000 per kg. The swim bladder of the Indian Salmon has the second highest demand after that of the Datina Koral.
One kg of maw of the Pike eel (Muraenesox bagio) sells for Tk25,000-40,000, while the swim bladder of the Rui, Katla and other white fish sells for Tk5,000-6,000 a kg.
Fish maw trade in Chattogram has gained popularity as it has a big demand in many countries and yields handsome returns for traders. Photo: Minhaz Uddin/TBS
">
Mohammad Hasan, a fisherman in Chattogram, told The Business Standard, "If we can net a Datina Koral, we can win a jackpot. As soon as we reach port after fishing in the Bay of Bengal, buyers fight to buy its maw."
Banomali Das, a fish cutter at the Fishery Ghat, said he earns good money from selling the fish maw he collects while cutting fish.
"I keep fish swim bladders and fins aside. Every day, I collect around 200 grams of maw and sell it .