Halda River sees third spawning this season

Brood fish of major carp species have released eggs at several points along the Halda River, the country's only natural carp breeding ground, for the third time this season.

Fishermen collected "sample eggs" from different sections of the river last night (18 June).

According to local fishers, around 20 to 30 boats were involved in egg collection, with each boat reportedly gathering just one to two kilograms of eggs.

"Each boat collected only a small amount of eggs, which are being treated as samples. A comprehensive assessment has not yet been completed," said Prof Dr Md Manzoorul Kibria, chairman of Department of Zoology at Chittagong University and a Halda River researcher.

The government's Department of Fisheries has been requested to properly document and calculate the total collection, he added.

According to him, the relatively low rainfall in recent weeks has likely affected spawning activity, while local collectors were also not fully prepared for large-scale harvesting.

He believes that improved rainfall conditions between 28 June and early July could trigger another round of spawning in the river.

Earlier in the season, researchers and fisheries officials estimated that fry produced from Halda eggs could generate economic activity worth around Tk55 crore in the fisheries sector.

Around 500 collectors, using 208 to 250 boats, have so far participated in egg collection this season.

So far, around 6,000 kg of eggs have been collected, from which about 155 kg of fry have been produced.

The fries are currently being sold in the market at prices ranging from Tk1.40 to Tk1.6 lakh per kg, said Dr Kibria.

He also cautioned that the current yield does not indicate a full-scale spawning event.