The price of a 33 kg popa fish caught in the fishermen’s net in the Bay of Bengal has been raised to Tk 10 lakh. The fish was caught in nets cast by the FB Ismail fishing trawler early Wednesday morning. Later around 1 pm, the trawler was moored at Mistripara Fishery Ghat on Shahpari Island in Teknaf. There, the price of popa fish is 10 lakh taka.

Mohammad Ismail, the owner of the trawler, said that on Monday morning, 10 fishermen went to the Bay of Bengal with the trawler from Mistripara Ghat in Shahpari Island of Sabrang Union of Teknaf Upazila. Early Wednesday morning, they cast their nets into the sea off the island of St. Martin. While raising the net, he saw that 15 red corals and a large popa fish had been caught.

Ata Ullah, General Secretary of Shahpari Island Mistripara Trawler Owners Association, said that although a lot of hilsa had been caught in the sea for a month, the fishermen were not getting any other fish. A few trawlers have already caught some red coral. Now the fishermen are going to fish in the sea hoping for popa fish and red coral.

The fish is known as ‘Kala Popa’ by the local people. The main attraction of this fish is the air bladder inside the stomach. A special type of surgical thread is made from this air sac. This is why the price of popa fish is so high. However, the fish was not sold till 9:30 pm on Wednesday.

Amir Ahmad, a local fish trader, said that two more black popa fish were caught in the fishing trawler here this year. These fish crackers are exported to Thailand and Singapore. That is why the price of this fish is so high. Apart from this, if the fish is cut and sold, it can be sold at Tk 550-650 per kg.

Trawler owner Mohammad Ismail said that a local fish merchant wanted to buy the fish for five lakh taka. But not getting a fair price, he sent the fish to Cox’s Bazar with ice well. Trying to communicate with traders who export fish crackers abroad.

Senior Fisheries Officer of Teknaf Upazila. Delwar Hossain told Prothom Alo that the air sac of popa fish is very valuable. This fish is in demand in different countries of the world as a special type of surgical thread can be made with the air sac of this fish.