Photo : BSS

BAGERHAT, Aug 1, 2025 (BSS): Bagerhat has topped lobster production in the country, contributing 34 percent of the national shrimp output in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

According to the Department of Fisheries, the district produced 32,630.95 metric tons of shrimp, including 54,848 lobsters, from 23,258 hectares of land. Lobsters, now recognized as a GI-certified product, earned an estimated Tk 1,971 crore. The current market rate is Tk 1,600 per kg locally and around Tk 1,000 per kg in export markets. Major buyers include the US, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Middle East, India, Canada, and Australia.

Among nine upazilas, Chitalmari, Bagerhat Sadar, and Mollahat were top contributors to shrimp production.

Fisheries Department of Bagerhat District Officer Dr. Abul Kalam Azad said, proper nursing of healthy PLs(Post-Larvae), maintaining water depth, and providing shelter in enclosures significantly improve shrimp survival and yield. Under good conditions, shrimp reach marketable size within six months.

Shrimp farming began in Fakirhat in 1977, inspiring thousands and earning it the nickname "Kuwait of Bengal" as shrimp became the region's "white gold."