The hilsa is back on the plate of fish loversand with that, it has brought smiles on the faces of the fishermen. With an increase in yield, fishermen are doing brisk business in the coastal district with the markets brimming with people as they jostle to get their hands on the fish. Even last week, the scene was quite different with a kilo of the fish being sold for Rs 800-1,200 in Paradip. The price tag proved prohibitive for many. But the prices have nosedived over the past two days following a higher catch with many markets selling the fish in the Rs 150-250 per kg range. “It’s good news for fishermen. The return from the seasonal fish is a bonus. Hilsa catch was low over the past three years,” Paradip marine fisheries officer Bharat Bhusan Sahoo said. “Those who sustain their livelihood by fishing wait for the hilsa season to earn extra money. But they were not able to reap the benefits owing to the low yield. We are hopeful that this year’s yield would compensate for the deficit.” The two-month fishing ban from April 15 to June 15 implemented this year during the breeding season has boosted the yield, sources said. The fishermen followed the government’s directions and stayed away from fishing during this time and now they are reaping the benefits, Sahoo said. “The catch has picked up over the past three days and multiplied our earnings,” said Raghav Haldar, a traditional marine fisherman. The price of the fish is expected to stay on the lower side in the coming days, making it affordable for middle and lower-middle class buyers. “We savour hilsa curry. The price drop has given us the opportunity to buy hilsa,” said local resident Binoy Kumar Ray. Hilsa is a sensitive species and its breeding ground is mostly concentrated at the confluence of river and oceanic waters. After breeding in freshwater, the fish makes its way to seawater by undertaking a return journey to the confluence points.