(BSS) – Khulna region witnessed an increase of 9,679.63 tons of fish, including shrimp export, for the 2024-25 fiscal year (FY) comparison to the 2023-24 FY.

In 2024-25 FY, a total of Tk 3,109cr were earned through export of 34,876.37 tonnes of fish, while in 2023-24FY, a total of Tk 2,146cr were earned through export of 25,196.74 tonnes of fish, according to Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Khulna office.

Of them, Tk 2,499cr were earned through exporting 19,512.79 tons of shrimp, while Tk 610cr were earned through 15,363.58 tonness of other fishes in ‘24-’25 FY whereas Tk 1,744cr were earned through exported 15,450.97 tonness of shrimp and Tk 402 cr were earned through 9745.78 tonnes of other fishes in ‘23-‘24 FY.

The FIQC data also showed that Tk 734.50cr were earned only from 4,282.14 tons of Galda shrimp export, Tk 1691.69cr were earned from 13,963.11 tons of Bagda (Tiger) shrimp export, and Tk 173.27cr were earned from 1,166.89 tons of crab export in ’24-25 FY.

In FY 2023-2024, Tk 420.43 crore were earned from 2,883.30 tonnes of Galda shrimp exports, Tk 1,311.21 crore from 11,336.54 tonnes of Bagda (Tiger) shrimp exports, and Tk 97.87 crore from 644.77 tons of crab exports.

The production of shrimp and other fish in the Khulna Region over the last couple of years has decreased due to various reasons, including a decline in the source of brackish water, virus attacks, the unwillingness of farmers to adopt modern methods, the non-availability of disease-free fry, and the adverse impact of climate change.

Export decreased by 3,000 tonnes, and the earning figure shows that the country deprived of earning of Tk300cr to Tk 500cr.

Moreover, shrimp and other fish farmers are also facing losses due to an increase in the price of feed.

The government is taking various initiatives including cluster method shrimp production, venami shrimp farming, quality feed and fries, environment-friendly fish and shrimp farming, massive training, and providing huge incentives aiming to increase the fish production.

Talking to BSS, Harun-ur-Rashid, a shrimp and white fish farmer of Koyra Upazila in Khulna, said due to sufficient rain, water bodies for shrimp and white fish farming could not face water scarcity.

Outbreak of virus attacks is possible to prevent due to various steps by the FICQ, he added.

Sheikh Mahtab Uddin, a fish farmer of Dumuria upazila in the district, told BSS today that training of fish farmers, incentives, quality feeds, water bodies filled-up with natural water, and quality fish fries have helped increasing fish production.

Earlier, an influential political group grabbed most of shrimp farming lands, intrude saline water by damaging the sluice gate, as a result of which real fish farmers could not farming their enclosures.

Now, many farmers are showing their interest for shrimp business after changing the political environment, and government’s proper steps to increase production, he added.

While talking to BSS Lipton Sarder, Inspector of FICQ of the Khulna Region, said this industry, which has great potential to contribute to the country`s economy, is losing its way gradually over the last couple of years.

Statistics from the last five years showed that the production of shrimp is continuously decreasing across Bangladesh, affecting overall exports as well.

Currently, the scenario has been changed due to various steps by the interim government, including cluster method farming.

When asked about the production and export increase, owner of Oriental Fish Processing Industries Limited, Sheikh Abdul Baki, said: “Cluster method fish farming, quality fish fries, improve diet, natural water bodies, and other initiatives taken by the government can help farmers increase fish production.

Md Zahangir Alam, Deputy Director of Fisheries Department of Khulna Division, told BSS, both white fish, Galda, Bagda, other shrimps, and crab production and export have been increased in 2024-25 FY than in previous years.

Many Countries are now keen interest to buy our fisheries and fisheries goods as its quality has been improved comparison to previous years.