Fish Drying in Chalan Beel Areas

A study on fish drying in Chalan Beel areas was conducted between August 2006 and February 2007. Field survey was carried out in Atrai, Singra, Tarash, and Bhangura Upazilas adjacent to Chalan Beel to assess the fish drying status. Twenty six fish were used for drying including five major fish species for large scale drying and remaining species were mixed with major species, mostly of damaged physically. Majority (89.3%) dry fish farmers brought raw fishes from local fish markets or landing centers. Washing of raw fish was done by beel water and poor quality salts were used for salting (rate: 50-250 g / kg fish) in most cases. Majority drying were done by spreading raw fishes on bamboo rack without any protection measure from insects or dust. Finally, maximum dried products were carried to Sayadpur (Nilphamary) dry fish wholesale market by the dry fish farmers or other middlemen. Key Words: Chalan Beel; Fish drying; Dry fish farmer; Raw fish; Marketing DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i4.4599 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(4) , 461-466, 2009