Md Jahangir Alam, Director of the Department of Fisheries in Khulna Division spoke at a workshop organized by the Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) today. Photo : BSS

KHULNA, May 20, 2025 (BSS) - Citing high domestic demand and export potential, experts said that commercial farming of Koral or Bhetki-known widely as seabass-is both viable and profitable in Bangladesh. 

"This farming method has the potential to significantly diversify coastal aquaculture species and boost the country's fish exports," they added.

The experts made the remarks at a workshop titled "Preparation of Bankable Business Plans for Commercial Feed-Based Seabass (Koral/Bhetki) Farming Using Modern Technology in Bangladesh", held today at the CSS Ava Center in Khulna.

The Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) organized the workshop with support from the Business Promotion Council (BPC) under the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Fisheries.

Md Badruzzaman, District Fisheries Officer of Khulna, presided over the event, while Md Jahangir Alam, Director of the Department of Fisheries in Khulna Division, attended as the chief guest.

Prof Dr Md Lifat Rahi of the Fisheries and Marine Research Technology Discipline at Khulna University, Kamrul Alam, Vice President of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), and Md Rafiqul Islam, Executive Director of BSFF, addressed the event as special guests.

Dr Md Zillur Rahman, Aquaculture Advisor at BSFF, presented findings from a pilot project on commercial feed-based seabass farming. Md Rafiqul Islam presented a draft bankable business plan for modern marine fish farming in Bangladesh.

The workshop highlighted a pilot project successfully implemented during the 2023-24 fiscal year under the joint BPC-BSFF initiative.

The project, funded by BPC and the Ministry of Commerce, was executed at the Agro-Technologies and Innovation Ltd. fish farm in Jhimongkhali, Hnila, Teknaf (Cox's Bazar), and yielded encouraging results.

The chief guest said the successful transfer of farming technology during the pilot phase laid the foundation for future scaling-up initiatives.

These efforts could further promote commercial seabass farming across Bangladesh for both domestic production and export purposes, he noted.

Experts stressed the importance of collaborative action among government and private sector stakeholders to expand modern feed-based seabass aquaculture in coastal regions. 

Senior upazila fisheries officers from Khulna, representatives from BFFEA, BPC officials, Khulna University researchers, representatives from government and private banks, fish farmers, hatchery owners, technicians, aquaculture input suppliers, BSFF staff, and other stakeholders attended the workshop.