Fish availability, marketing system and value chain analysis of some important commercial marine species at local markets of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Abstract

The diversity of fish is crucial for aquatic resources of Bangladesh to be sustainable in the future. Fish biodiversity is threatened by stresses brought on by overfishing, climate change, habitat loss, eutrophication, and pollution. In order to make recommendations for effective management of a fish marketing system in Cox's Bazar, this research was created to look at the availability of fish species, marketing channels, value chain analyses, and constraints connected with three fish marketplaces. Primary data were collected by using questionnaire interviews, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA) and cross-check interviews with key informants from Kolatoli, Baharchara, Boro Bazar fish markets for almost two months from the midway of September 2021 to November 2021. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel Software. A total number of 96 fish and shellfish species were recorded during the study period in the three fish markets of Cox’s Bazar. Fish market was dominated by the Hilsa fishes (22%) followed by pomfret (14%), seabass (11%), Bombay Duck (9%), Ribbon Fish (8%), Croaker (8%), Tuna (7%) and other species. Hilsa was dominated in the studied market because all of the markets are located in the Southern coastal belt. Among freshwater fishes, species such as Kajuli, Bheda, Gulsha tengra, Tara baim, Shal baim, Tit punti, Rani, Lomba chanda were rare and Gura tengra, Guchi baim, Kakila, Darkina, Dhela, Gutum were very rare in the market due to inadequate supply. Price of Golda chingri (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (600-1200 tk/kg) and large size Hilsha (800-1200) were always high in all of the three markets. In the distribution channel of the fish trade, three tiers of market or marketing systems were observed: primary, secondary and final consuming markets. The landing area's main attraction was the primary market. Following the primary and secondary markets, the consumer market had a substantially larger marketing margin and revenue. Inadequate ice facilities as well as lack of preservation facilities were highlighted as the key problem at three fish markets in Cox's Bazar during the current study.