AHMEDABAD: Ibrahim Bhura, a
fisherman from Jamnagar in his late forties, spent all his life at sea
and yet, his catch never earned him more than Rs 2 lakh annually. On
Tuesday, however, he instantly became a crorepati, thanks to just one
catch. Bhura struck gold when he caught some 350-odd ghol fish from Jhakhau creek in mid-sea. The catch is worth close to Rs 1 crore.
The value of ghol fish, scientifically known as protonibea diacanthus, comes from its fins which are used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture dissolvable stitches. It is also used in wine purification and is exported to countries like Singapore. It is three to 4.5 feet in length and can weigh up to 20 kg. "I had no clue of the value of the catch till I landed on the shore," Bhura, a resident of Bharana village, told TOI. "When I was told about the price by local traders, I immediately thanked Allah. The windfall from the sea has ensured that Tuesday's trip into the sea was my last of the fishing season."
With just one medium-sized boat, Bhura and his family have struggled to make ends meet so far. But thanks to ghol fish, he is starting to think big. "Constructing a pucca house is our top priority given that we are a joint family," he says. "I will also buy another boat and name it after the ghol fish. If Allah permits, I also want to go on Haj with my father."
Nayan Makwana, the fishing officer at Jhakhau, said, "Ghol fish is not rare fish, but it is found only in the fag end of the season. Lucky fishermen net eight to 10 fish in the entire season. A catch of 350 ghols is the largest we have heard of."
The value of ghol fish, scientifically known as protonibea diacanthus, comes from its fins which are used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture dissolvable stitches. It is also used in wine purification and is exported to countries like Singapore. It is three to 4.5 feet in length and can weigh up to 20 kg. "I had no clue of the value of the catch till I landed on the shore," Bhura, a resident of Bharana village, told TOI. "When I was told about the price by local traders, I immediately thanked Allah. The windfall from the sea has ensured that Tuesday's trip into the sea was my last of the fishing season."
With just one medium-sized boat, Bhura and his family have struggled to make ends meet so far. But thanks to ghol fish, he is starting to think big. "Constructing a pucca house is our top priority given that we are a joint family," he says. "I will also buy another boat and name it after the ghol fish. If Allah permits, I also want to go on Haj with my father."
Nayan Makwana, the fishing officer at Jhakhau, said, "Ghol fish is not rare fish, but it is found only in the fag end of the season. Lucky fishermen net eight to 10 fish in the entire season. A catch of 350 ghols is the largest we have heard of."
