Fish Market and Marketing Issues in Bangladesh

Research PaperBangladesh being a lowland country have rich water resources in and around the country. The total fish production in 1998-99 was 1552 thousands tonnes of which 80% were from inland fisheries and 20% from marine sources. Major portion (97%) of the total harvested fish is marketed internally for domestic consumption. About 50% of the inland fish productions are consumed in fresh form due to the strong consumer preference. In terms of volume, value and employment, the domestic fish market in Bangladesh is big. The fish marketing system in Bangladesh is traditional, complex, and less competitive but plays a vital role in connecting the fish producers, and consumers, thus contributing significantly in "value add" process of the fish which otherwise would have been unused or underused and consequently in the earnings of the fisherfolk. Hence this study was conducted to understand the salient feature of fish marketing system in general and three fish marketing areas, urban, suburban and rural fish market of Comilla district in specific and the pond fish marketing system of Bangladesh. Fish marketing is almost entirely managed, financed and controlled by a group of powerful intermediaries who played a big role in fish marketing channel. The marketing infrastructure including cold storage, ice, insulated transport facilities, landing centres and wholesale markets is generally inadequate, unhygienic and in disrepair. They need to be fully developed to reduce the waste, lower the marketing costs, stabilize the prices and over all improve the marketing efficiency