Surplus fish production, shifting food habits, and a rising preference among young consumers for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items have fueled rapid growth in Bangladesh’s market for fish-based processed products.

Yet, micro-entrepreneurs operating in this promising sector continue to struggle amid the absence of clear policies on quality control, sanitation, marketing, certification, and simplified licensing procedures.

Against this backdrop, a policy dialogue titled “Policy Gaps Related to Small-Scale Fish Processing and Marketing in the Domestic Market in Bangladesh” was held on Wednesday in Dhaka’s Agargaon, organised by PKSF under its Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP).

Prof. Dr. A.K.M. Nowsad Alam of the Department of Fisheries Technology at Bangladesh Agricultural University said the lack of explicit guidelines for micro-entrepreneurs engaged in fish processing, the expanding street-food business, and the marketing and safety of value-added products is slowing sectoral growth. He stressed the need for practical policies to support the expansion of street-food enterprises and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fish processing.

PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader, who chaired the dialogue, said entrepreneurs nationwide are producing a wide range of value-added fish products. He added that PKSF continues to provide technical, technological, and financial support to these producers. Formulating policy guidelines for marketing processed fish products, supporting the growth of street-food enterprises, and introducing SOPs for fish product processing would mark a significant milestone for entrepreneurs, he said.

Speaking as the chief guest, Dr. Md. Abdur Rauf, Acting Director General of the Department of Fisheries, said the government would take steps to develop standards for fish-based products—including ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items produced by micro-entrepreneurs—as well as for their marketing in the street-food sector.

The dialogue was moderated by Dr. Akond Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Managing Director of PKSF. Dr. S.M. Rezaul Karim, Director (In-Charge) of the Department of Fisheries, also attended.

Officials from the Fish Inspection and Quality Control office, academics from various fisheries departments, and researchers working in the fisheries sector participated in the event.