Soccer fish can open new doors of possibilities
September 21, 20243 Mins Read

Jumbangla Desk: Due to excessive pollution in the Buriganga river that flows through the heart of the capital Dhaka, the aquatic biodiversity has been destroyed long ago. In the meantime, a non-native fish is sitting on the banks of the country, including the Buriganga, as well as the neck of the ponds and canals. The name is Sugar Mouth Catfish. This fish has become a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem and the existence of native fish. However, through proper processing and alternative use, sugar fish can become the new horizon of the country's economy.

Sugar fish

At one time, this fish was imported to beautify the aquarium and clean the algae that grew on its glass. This fish also keeps the glass clean by eating algae. But this aquarium fish has now spread in different rivers and reservoirs of the country. At present, when the net is cast in the Buriganga, this monster fish comes up in flocks.

Sugar fish spread in almost the same way in Latin American countries. Sakaar originated in the jungles of the Amazon, but today the fish has spread to almost all countries in South America. Although suffering for some time as a result of this widespread expansion, Mexican fishermen are now seeing new economic opportunities from the fish.

According to a report by US-based media outlet Insider News, sugar mouth catfish, once known as devil fish in Mexico, is being processed and dried to be used as food for pets and cats. What's more, the country is earning foreign currency by exporting that food. At present, new entrepreneurs are constantly being created around saker fish in the country. The story of two such entrepreneurial brothers, Juan Carlos and Francisco, is highlighted in the report.

Francisco, a fisherman by profession, said that once the nets were thrown in the river, there were flocks of sugar fish, which had no price in the market. No one ate this fish thinking it was poisonous. At that time, the financial losses were severe. Then in 2014, with the help of some researchers, an initiative was taken to use the fish as animal feed keeping in mind its nutritional value and high protein.

After that, they did not look back. Currently these two brothers are making several times more profit by selling Saka fish than before.

Several processing firms have already been set up in the country to process saka fish. In these farms, the fish is collected from the fishermen and the fish is peeled and cut in a special way. After that it is frozen and hardened and then cut into separate pieces and dried in a dryer. Later, when the fish pieces are dried, they are wrapped in sugar fish flakes.

In California and other states of the United States, dried sugar fish has become quite popular as animal feed. A large quantity of dried sugar fish is currently being exported from Mexico.

The abundance of sugar fish in rivers in Bangladesh has increased significantly in the last few years. Therefore, instead of considering it as a cut throat, the related ministries including Fisheries Research Institute can take into account the issue of new industry by using this fish in Raksusa through proper research and a process.