Record Catch of 687 Red Coral Fish in Teknaf’s Shahporir Dwip Sells for 10 Lakh Taka

In Teknaf’s Shahporir Dwip, a trawler netted an impressive 687 red coral fish, which were later sold for 10 lakh taka at the local fish landing site. The haul was caught on Wednesday afternoon by trawler owner Mohammad Zakaria and his crew, residents of Mistri Para.

The fishermen said that in recent days, few trawlers were catching anything substantial in the area. So, the unexpected catch brought excitement and joy among Zakaria and his crew. Upon reaching the Mistri Para fish market, competition among buyers drove the price down slightly from an initial asking price of 12 lakh taka, with the fish ultimately selling for 10 lakh taka.

Zakaria, 42, told reporters that he and his seven-member crew had gone fishing near the southwest of Saint Martin’s Island, in the Bay of Bengal around the Moulvirshil area. Each fish weighed between 1.5 and 4 kg, and after counting, the total came to 687. The trawler returned to Shahporir Dwip before evening.

Out of the total catch, 10 fish were kept for the crew, and the remaining 677 red coral fish were offered for sale. Fish trader Rahim Ullah purchased them for 10 lakh taka, with the per-kilogram price coming to 575 taka.

Zakaria noted that since December 1, fish had been scarce in the sea. His trawler had gone out twice without catching anything, so this haul provided a much-needed boost for the fishermen.

Rahim Ullah confirmed that the fish have already been supplied to Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka, where demand is high due to a shortage of seafood in local markets. Half of the catch was sent to Cox’s Bazar and the other half to Dhaka, where it is expected to sell at 700–750 taka per kilogram. Hotels in Cox’s Bazar and the markets in Chattogram and Dhaka are the primary consumers of red coral fish.

Local fishermen explained that red coral fish are typically found in deep sea areas. In winter, they gather near the coral reefs of Saint Martin’s Island, making fishing difficult due to rocks and reefs. Fishermen often use large nets to catch them.

Teknaf Upazila Fisheries Officer Umul Farah Begum said red coral is a tasty fish that was once abundant in local markets but has become rarer over time. The fish can reach up to 9 kg in weight.