Fish scales are exported abroad, discarded products bring dollars to the country
September 21, 20243 Mins Read

Jumbangla Desk: Fish scales were thrown away after cutting fish in Khulna a few days ago. Now that fiber is dried in the sun and exported to different countries including China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. People associated with fishing in different markets are making extra income from this.

Export of fish scales

Fish scales, which were once considered to be discarded or thrown away, have now started earning foreign currency in Bangladesh.

Going to the new market of the city, it can be seen that seven to eight people are cutting fish. Placing fish scales next to their seating area. Ali Hossain, a person associated with fish cutting, said that earlier they used to throw away the fish scales. However, for the last 2 years, the scales are kept after harvesting the fish. After that they washed well with water and dried it in the sun for 2 days and stored it. Traders from Dhaka and their representatives bought the fibers. They sell fiber at 70 to 80 taka per kg. Then 15 to 20 businessmen of Dhaka exported them abroad.

Rakib Sheikh, associated with fish cutting, said that every day they cut different types of fish from morning to afternoon. Among them, the scales of the big fish are cut a little more and saved. Two to three maunds of fiber are collected in a month. An average of 7 to 10 thousand taka per month is earned by selling it.

He also said that they don't know how to get rid of dandruff. They would have benefited if the Fisheries Department trained them in this regard.

Sandhya Bazar, Bara Bazar, Mistripara Bazar, Jorakal Bazar, New Market Raw Market and other markets of the city were visited, some people cut fish in each market. Earlier they threw away the fish scales, but now they save it and sell it later to earn extra income.

According to District Fisheries Office sources, thousands of people are involved in fishing in more than 200 markets of Khulna. However, more than 200 people sell fish scales.

In this regard, District Fisheries Officer Jaydev Pal said that last year, fish scales worth around 150 million rupees were exported from all over the country including Khulna. But the exporters are all from Dhaka. For that reason only the information about how much or how much fish scales were exported from Khulna is not different.

The fisheries official said that only 20 percent of the fish sold in the Khulna market is cut in the market. The scales are discarded when the rest of the fish is cut at home and in hotels and restaurants. No one stores fish scales in some markets.

He said, it is possible to double the export income if the people associated with fishing in all markets save fish. Training is planned on how to descale fish and how to avoid spoilage. Awareness program is going on about saving fish scales and selling them.

Experts say that fish fiber has many uses worldwide. Fish fibers contain collagen which is used in the food, pharmaceutical, food supplement and cosmetics industries. A product called collagen is sold in the European and American markets. In China and Japan, bio-piezoelectric nano-generators using these fibers are used to charge rechargeable batteries. It is also used in domestic electricity generation. Besides, fish scales are used in making batteries, electrical products, artificial corneas, fish and poultry feed.
Source: Channel 24