Now, sales have jumped five-fold. According to the Fishery Association Nepal, live fish accounts for around 10 percent of sales while frozen fish makes up the rest.   

“It was difficult convincing customers about the benefits of eating healthy or live fish in the past,” said Giri. “But now, the number of health-conscious people has grown resulting in soaring demand for live or fresh fish.”

Normally, live fish are harvested from ponds and sold directly in the market without killing them. As they have a high mortality rate, prices are also higher.

“The Kathmandu valley now has more than 38 outlets selling live fish,” said Giri, who is also the president of the Fishery Association Nepal.

According to the association, more than 800 to 1,000 kg of live fish are sold daily from the Balkhu Vegetable Market. Four water tanks have been set up in the market to house the fish.    

Giri said that demand for live fish had been swelling significantly as people today know the health hazards of consuming dead fish that contain formalin as a preservative. Prices have started falling with traders using modern technology to bring down the mortality rate of fish. Retail prices of live fish stand at Rs 450 per kg compared to Rs 500 two years ago.

“In past years, we used oxygen cylinders in the water tanks that were very costly, but now we are using air compressors which has brought down the mortality rate to 25 percent from 75 percent,” said trader Shah. He sells live fish in Kathmandu brought from Bara. “I sell 700 to 800 kg of fish daily,” he said.

Encouraged by rising sales, many entrepreneurs have been attracted towards fish farming and selling. A new entrant in the business Machhindra Upreti said that he started selling fish after completing his studies abroad. “I completed my studies in Australia and went into the fishery business as it holds tremendous potential,” he said. He has been selling live fish from Chabahil and New Baneshwor, and has set up a cement tank from where customers can choose the fish

they want to buy. He maintains a fish farm in Chitwan spread over 10 bighas.  

“Though the market has started expanding, we have been facing various difficulties due to lack of a well equipped wholesale market and proper transportation system,” said Giri. “If the government provides subsidies on transportation and purchase of modern tools, the mortality rate of live fish would decrease resulting in lower prices,” Giri said.  

Rohu, naini, carp, bhakura, silver, grass carp and magur are some of the popular fish species in Nepal. According to the Nepal Fish Development Programme, 57,520 tonnes of fish were produced in the country in the

last fiscal year. Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Janakpur and Chitwan are the major fish producing areas in the country.