Hilsa, the most popular and delicious fish mostly consumed in Bangladesh and its surroundings, has started to come to the country’s rivers from the Bay of Bengal as early as July this year. And the fisheries department expects around 500,000 tonnes of hilsa to be consumed in the country this year, which has an estimated worth of Tk 500-600 billion. However, experts now say hilsa has more worth besides its market price. They called it non-consumptive value’. A recent study, undertaken by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), in partnership with the World Fish Centre, said that hilsa also has cultural, religious, social and livelihood values. The study, funded by USAID, estimates this non-consumptive value at Tk 27.88 billion. The study said hilsa claims 10 per cent of the country’s total fish consumption and contributes to 1 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). Although hilsa is available from Vietnam to Persian Gulf, consumption in Bangladesh is the highest — 50-60 per cent. According to the fisheries department, the size and weight of hilsa caught last year were more than the ones consumed the previous years. As a result, the price plummetted to as low as Tk 100-200 per kilogram. It ensured that people from the lower income group managed to buy hilsa, like the people who could always afford them. However, the organisations that carried out the research are doubtful regarding the sustainability of this increase in hilsa production. Fishermen are held hostage to boat owners and hedge financiers, who according to department data, take 80 per cent of the fishes. The fishermen get the remaining 20 per cent. The organisations recommended giving the fisherman interest-free loans. The fisheries department’s director general, Arif Azad, told Prothom Alo that they have raised a Tk 35 million fund with the help of USAID in this connection. And they have plans to give fishermen interest-free loans as well. The study also said around 500,000 people are directly dependant on fishing of hilsa for their livelihoods. Besides, 2.5 million people depend on its processing, transportation and marketing. Another World Fish Centre study in 2015 said hilsa is the fish with the most food value. The study was done on 30 popular fishes in the South Asia. As many as 260 million people in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka consume hilsa, which makes it the third most popular fish in the world, after salmon and tuna. According to World Fish Centre, hilsa is the second highest on Omega-3 food value, right after salmon. The food value of hilsa is being discussed all over the world right now. It is low on saturated fat, which is harmful for health. On the other hand, it is full of Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps keep the cholesterol in blood low, and Vitamins A and D. Hilsa also reduces the risk of thrombosis and ensures better blood circulation, which keeps the heart healthier. **This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Quamrul Hassan.