An overview of status, trends, and management of the Hilsa shad fishery along the West Bengal Coast

Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822), is an anadromous, euryhaline, and commercially significant pelagic clupeid widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region, with major fisheries in Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar (Dutta et al., 2021). As a highly valued food fish in Bangladesh and eastern India, particularly in West Bengal, hilsa fishery provides livelihoods to millions of people in this region. The species is widely distributed across marine, estuarine, and riverine habitats in the Bay of Bengal. Nutritionally, hilsa is considered excellent because of its protein, lipid and omega-3 fatty acid content, essential for human health. Its seasonal availability, particularly during the monsoon spawning migration, drives high consumer demand and premium market prices, reinforcing its socioeconomic and cultural importance. West Bengal records the highest hilsa landings among Indian maritime states, highlighting need for fisheries management to ensure ecological sustainability, food security, and the preservation of cultural heritage