A Day in the Life of Sundarban Fishermen

Villages along the Pasur, Shibsa and Rupsha rivers wake up long before dawn. For thousands of families on the edge of the Sundarbans, fishing is not just a job; it is a way of life.

Before sunrise

By 4 a.m. the small wooden boats are on the water. Nets set the evening before are pulled in by hand, often by two or three family members working together.

The catch

Depending on the season, the nets bring parshe, bhetki, tengra, pomfret, shrimp and mud crab. In monsoon, the lucky ones find hilsa.

Keeping it fresh

Fish are sorted on the boat and packed in ice within hours, then taken to landing centres in Khulna and Mongla. Speed is everything, because freshness can’t be added later.

Life on the edge

• Cyclones and rising salinity threaten homes and fishing grounds.
• Seasonal fishing bans protect breeding but mean weeks without income.
• Middlemen often take most of the profit.

Fair trade, fresher fish

By buying directly from fishing communities, we pay fishermen better prices and get fish to your table faster, with no formalin and no long cold-storage chains. Here is how to recognise truly fresh fish.

Ready to taste the difference? Support local fishermen, order fresh fish, sourced directly from the Sundarbans and delivered across Bangladesh.