What a catch: Palghar fishermen’s fortune change after selling 157 ghol fish for Rs 1.33 crores
Fishermen at Palghar during the auction for the catch of ghol fish. The whole consignment was sold for Rs 1.33 crore.
After months-long ban on fishing due to the monsoon in Maharashtra, little did some fishermen from Palghar knew that the first day of fishing would fetch them Rs 1.33 crore worth of catch.
Chandrakant Tare, a fisherman from Palghar, set off sailing for fishing along with eight of his colleagues on the late evening of August 28. They were in the boat Harba Devi and went to Wadhwan, which is 20 to 25 nautical miles.
Tare never imagined that this fishing trip would change his fortune. Tare and his team got a catch of 157 ghol fish, known as ‘sea gold’. The ghol fish is high of medicinal and pharmaceutical use and is in huge demand in countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan.
The ghol fish is high of medicinal and pharmaceutical use.
The auction for the fishes was held in Murbe, Palghar. The whole consignment was bought by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-based traders for Rs 1.33 crore.
Due to pollution, such fishes are very rare in the area. Fishermen in the area have to venture deep into the sea to get a good catch.
The fish, whose scientific name is ‘Protonibea Diacanthus’, is a type of croaker fish. It is used in cosmetics, medicines, thread making dissolvable stitches in surgery. Every part of the fish is highly used for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.
Palghar fisherman sells 157 Ghol fish for Rs1.33 crore
Chandrakant Tare, a fisherman from Murbhe in Palghar, did not know that the 157 Ghol fish caught by him near Wadhwan, about 25 nautical miles off Palghar coast, on the evening of August 28, would change his fortunes.
The fisherman sold the entire catch to a consortium of traders from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for a whopping ₹1.33 crore.
Tare had set sail on his Harbadevi trawler with 10 crew members onboard on August 15.
Word about the catch soon spread among trawlers on the Palghar coast and it was sold to the highest bidder.
Tare said that the sale has helped him resolve all his financial issues.
The Ghol fish (Protonibea diacanthus) is a type of blackspotted croaker fish and has a huge demand in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Known as ‘Sea Gold’, the fish has a huge market as its fins have medicinal value and are used by pharmaceutical companies to make dissolvable stitches.
“It is also used for wine purification in Singapore,” said Hitendra Naik, a resident of Satpati in Palghar.
Lately, there has been a drop in the fish’s population in the area owing to rampant pollution. As a result, the fisherfolk have to venture deep into the sea for fresh catch that leads to significant expenses in terms of dry rations diesel, drinking water and wage to labourers (khalasis) onboard.
Ghol Fish Worth Rs 1.33 Crore! Palghar Fisherman Catches 157 Ghol Fish on First Fishing Trip After Monsoon, Sells at Whopping Price
Mumbai, September 1: Chandrakant Tare, a fisherman from Murbhe in Palghar district of Maharashtra, hit the jackpot when he recently caught 157 Ghol fish. Ghol is considered the most expensive edible and commercial fish in the region. On August 28, Chandrakant Tare sold 157 Ghol fish to a consortium of traders from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for a whopping Rs 1.33 crore. Incidentally, it was his first fishing trip after months-long ban on fishing in light of the monsoon. Two Giant Manta Rays Caught by Fisherman Off Malpe Port in Karnataka, Watch Video; Know What Manta Ray is.
Tare had set sail with 10 crew members onboard Harba Devi boat on August 15. When their boat reached near Wadhwan, about 25 nautical miles off Palghar coast, the fisherman laid the net in deep sea. In what changed Tare’s fortunes, a school of Ghol fish, also known as “sea gold”, was trapped. A video of Tare’s prized catch soon went viral among fishermen and a large group of fish traders gathered for auction on August 28 when the boat returned.
Tare sold the bladder and other internal organs of 157 Ghol fish for Rs 1.3 crore. The Ghol fish, scientifically called Protonibea Diacanthus, is a type of blackspotted croaker fish. It is used for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes among others. The thread for dissolvable stitches in surgery is also made of the Ghol fish. Huge Bhola Fish of 52 Kgs Found in West Bengal, Woman Hits a Jackpot Selling it For 3 Lakhs! (View Pics).
In Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, the fish is in huge demand. The presence of Ghol fish is very rare in the Palghar water region due to pollution. Tare, who caught and sold 157 Ghol fish, told Times of India that the earning would help him recover financial losses.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2021 03:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).