Khulna witnesses decline in shrimp export

Khulna region witnessed a decrease in shrimp export as concerned authorities attributed declination of shrimp export to reasons like global economic depression, reduction of demand for price hike, wrong and imperfect policies of the fallen Awami League government and disinterest of foreign buyers.

Fish and fisheries goods export incurred decline of around Tk 677 crore in the last 2023-24 fiscal year as 41,000 tonnes of fish and fisheries goods worth Tk 2,146 crore has been exported from Khulna, according to the fisheries inspection and quality control office in the Khulna zone.

In 2021-22 FY, the Department of Fisheries in Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat exported 33,271 tonnes of shrimp and white fish and fisheries goods worth around Tk 2,963 crore.

Exporting of shrimp and other fisheries items stood at 28,316 tonnes worth around Tk 2,823cr in 2022-23 FY while 25,196 tonnes were exported with around Tk 2,146 crore in 2023-24 FY.

Sources said the export of shrimp and other white fish has decreased by 3,120 tonnes and Tk 677 crore compared to the last 2022-23 FY.

Shrimp ghers (enclosure) have also decreased in Khulna although Bagerhat and Satkhira saw same scenario in the last five years, according to the fisheries department.

Tiger shrimp (Bagda) gher in salty water in Khulna was on 36,151 hectares of land in 2018-19 FY while it stood at 32,383 hectares of land in 2023-24 FY.

Besides, Galda shrimp gher in sweet water was on 20,034 hectares of land in 2018-19 FY while it stood at 19,016 hectares of land in 2023-24 FY. Bagda shrimp ghers have decreased to 4,786 hectares of land in the last five years.

Talking to BSS, Khulna Fisheries Officer Joydev Paul said today that at least 3,500 tonnes of shrimp production have decreased due to the reduction of shrimp farming.

Besides, the demand and value of shrimp also decreased in global markets, he said, adding that the value of small-size shrimp is higher in the local markets than the international markets, so farmers are selling shrimp in local markets instead of exporters.

Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control officer Lipton Sarder said white fishes including vetki, pabda, tengra and parshe side by side shrimp were exported from the Khulna region.

Demand and values decreased for different causes including global economic recession, and war in the world, he said, adding that exports of shrimp and white fisheries side by side income subsidized.

He, however, said at least 20 to 25 organisations are exporting regularly although 41 exporting organisations had licenses.

Shrimp and white fish exporters fell into trouble as shrimp exports decreased from Khulna region, said Mofidul Islam, a frozen shrimp exporter in Khulna.

Frozen shrimp factories in Khulna do not get Galda and Tiger shrimp as per demand, he said, adding: “But our expenses especially wages of workers, electricity bills, and other expenditures are not decreasing”.

Professor Amir Hossain (Rtd.), a resident at Bagerhat said salty water contributes to decreasing shrimp farming as increasingly rising of water level of the Bay of Bengal, cyclone induced flood in the southern part of Bangladesh played role in making the soil and water saltier.

Talking to BSS, farmers of Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira said they can’t protect intrusion of salty water to the Bagda gher.

Director of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) Humayun Kabir said export-oriented shrimp factories are now getting one-fourth portion of fishes compared to the demand in global markets. (BSS)