MARKETING CHANNEL AND EXPORT POTENTIALITY OF FRESHWATER MUD EEL (MONOPTERUS CUCHIA) OF NOAKHALI REGION IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study has been undertaken to create a better understanding of the current marketing flow and trading practices for freshwater eel in Bangladesh. A survey was conducted from November 2009 to July 2010 through collecting information using a semi-structured questionnaire among the cross section of marketing operators in the south East part of (Noakhali) of Bangladesh. This paper explores market chain issues for the freshwater eel (Monopterus cuchia) trade, a high-value export fishery involving nearly 15 countries in the world, with high demand in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. The marketing system passes through a number of channels from catchers to exporters. A different grading system is involved for marketing of freshwater eel in Bangladesh. It is varied according to the sex and size of the eel in the international market. Freshwater eel marketing was considered as a profitable business by most of the marketing operators. The social and religious restriction on consumption of freshwater eel was also reported as a problem that hinders the business and prevents obtaining realistic prices in the domestic market. For this reason, in local market of Noakhali freshwater eel is not available.