Hilsa Fish : In News
Bangladesh recently announced it has decided to export hilsa fish to India ahead of the Durga Puja festive season as a mark of “enduring Bangladesh-India friendship”.
- Hilsa Fish is a species of fish belonging to the Clupeidae family, which includes herring fish.
- It is also called Ilish and holds an exceptional position in the culinary customs and social practices of Bengal.
- It is a fish that is highly prized because of its delicate flavour, distinct taste, and silky texture.
- Scientific Name: Tenualosa ilisha
- It is found in rivers and estuaries in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the Persian Gulf
- Hilsa fish live in both saltwater and freshwater.
- They spend most of their lives in the ocean.
- However, when it’s time to lay their eggs, they swim up into rivers. This journey is called a migration.
- They travel to rivers like the Padma River and Meghna River in Bangladesh.
- They also go to rivers in India, such as the Ganges River and Godavari River.
- Bangladesh produces around 70% of the world’s ilish, making it a subject of public pride. Ilish is also the national fish of Bangladesh.
- The Hilsa fish helps Bangladesh’s economy a lot. It makes up about 12% of all the fish caught in the country. It also adds about 1% to the country’s total GDP.
- Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern.
