🐟 Bhetki (Lates calcarifer ) – The Royal Catch of the Sundarbans
Bhetki , also known as Barramundi in Australia and globally, is a highly prized fish species both for its gastronomic appeal and ecological adaptability . Scientifically classified as Lates calcarifer , this carnivorous fish is known for its firm, flaky flesh , high protein value, and ability to thrive in both fresh and brackish water . In the Sundarbans , Bhetki holds a special place in the local economy, biodiversity , and culinary traditions.
Let’s explore its taxonomy, morphology, habitat, behavior , and its vital role in the Sundarban ecosystem .
📚 Taxonomy 🔍 Morphology & Physical Description
Size: Typically reaches 60–120 cm in length; can grow over 1.5 meters in the wild.
Weight: Can weigh up to 60 kg , though average catch is between 2–8 kg .
Body Shape:
Streamlined and laterally compressed , ideal for swift movement.
Large mouth and prominent jaw , suitable for predatory feeding.
Coloration:
🌿 Habitat & Distribution
Naturally distributed across coastal and estuarine regions of South and Southeast Asia , including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia .
Thrives in estuaries, tidal rivers, lagoons , and sometimes even freshwater lakes .
Well-suited to brackish and marine water , and capable of moving between salinities with ease.
🌟 Unique Features & Adaptations
🔄 Euryhaline Nature: Bhetki is adaptable to varying salinity levels , enabling it to shift between riverine and marine ecosystems.
🧬 Protandrous Hermaphrodite: Born male, Bhetki changes to female as it matures — a fascinating reproductive strategy.
🐟 Predatory Diet: Feeds on smaller fish, crustaceans, and mollusks , playing a role in regulating prey populations.
🍽 Culinary Icon: Celebrated in Bengali cuisine for its mild flavor, meaty texture , and ability to absorb spices — starring in dishes like Bhetki paturi , Bhetki fry , and more.
🐠 Aquaculture Friendly: Widely farmed due to its fast growth and high demand.
🌊 Presence in the Sundarbans The Sundarbans , with its dynamic mix of freshwater and tidal brackish systems , is a natural haven for Bhetki .
Found in the Hooghly-Matla estuary system , Raimangal , Bidya , and Saptamukhi rivers .
Breeds in coastal and estuarine waters and juveniles migrate into creeks and inland channels for feeding and growth.
Highly valued by local fishermen and served fresh in eco-resorts and homestays , making it a star of Sundarban cuisine .
⚠️ Challenges in Sundarbans:
Overfishing due to high market demand.
Habitat disruption from siltation, mangrove deforestation, and pollution.
Salinity fluctuation from climate change affecting spawning cycles.
🛡 Conservation & Sustainability
IUCN Red List: Least Concern , but habitat protection is key for wild stocks.
Promoted in eco-tourism and sustainable aquaculture .
Governmental and local efforts support Bhetki farming as a sustainable livelihood model in the Sundarbans.
The Bhetki (Lates calcarifer ) is not just a culinary delicacy but also a symbol of the resilient aquatic biodiversity of the Sundarban ecosystem . Its adaptability, commercial value, and ecological role make it one of the most important fish species in the region — treasured by both fishermen and foodies alike .
If you’re visiting the Sundarbans, don’t miss out on a taste of fresh Bhetki , straight from the creeks to your plate!
📌 Credit Note
🚤 Discover nature like never before with our Sundarban luxury tour Sundarban private tour package
🌴 Book your next wild adventure with a trusted Sundarban trip
🎉 Dive into a delicious monsoon celebration at the Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025 Sundarban ilish utsav — a must-attend for every seafood lover!
Learn more about this fascinating species on its Wikipedia page
... read more staff is always up to the mark. Thank you all.
Rupak BhattacharjeeJanuary 17, 2023
... read more and the boat ride were upto another level. Thank you so much for this wonderful treat. Looking forward to visit again. 😊
CHANDNI NASKARDecember 17, 2022
... read more people. The jungle visit was great and we could see so many animals
Kunal BasuMarch 17, 2022
... read more a 21 heads office tour for two days and one night . Basically, it was a farewell to our General Manager. Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Following may noted for further: Promised were executed 💯% Timely availability of traveler on pick-up point. Food quality and quantity was very good. Comfortable night stay. Room condition was good. Arrangment of Folk dance 💃 was supab. Recommended for the tour.
Umesh PaswanJanuary 17, 2023
... read more on board were very cordial and co-operative. The food served was abundant and of good quality and taste. We didn't felt when the whole day passed away. Complete value for money. I would recommend everyone should have a try with Sonakshi Travels.
S DGMarch 17, 2022
... read more staff ( Bapida, Bhaskarda and Uttamda). Special thanks to Talukdar Babu for taking care of everything. Highly recommended.
rupendu banerjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more local people was truly a fun filled surprise.
Pronami SarkarMarch 17, 2022
... read more end point by professional guides who displayed very courteous behavior. definitely talukdar ji will be my preferred choice for all trips in future as well.
Auditro Hi-Fi SystemsDecember 17, 2022
Sandhya BhideDecember 17, 2022
... read more for the tour. They provide us a car and launch for this trip. It was very organised trip.
Faiz AhmedMarch 17, 2022
HRITURAJ CHAKRABORTYOctober 17, 2022
... read more trip of Sundarban ( 3D&2N).The trip was tailor made for our need.The staff members were very courteous & looked after all the nitty gritty to make the trip a memorable one.The food used to be prepared as per our requests & was relished by all members.The night stay arranged in the 5 star resort was superb and in an hospitable atmosphere.The resort has the added feature of being located in a natural surroundings of flora and fauna. It provided attractive play areas for kids. On top of everything, it was pocket friendly & no hidden cost was involved. Would strongly recommend SonakshiTravel for this riverine trip.
Arun BiswasJanuary 17, 2023
... read more recommend their package
Sanghita RoyMarch 17, 2022
pramod tembhurnikarFebruary 17, 2023
prabhat kumar banerjeeSeptember 17, 2022
... read more dismantled as the driver uses it impulsively :) Definitely recommended...
Indraneil GhoshJanuary 17, 2023
... read more did a fantastic job. Wish them all the very best.
Avik RoyJanuary 17, 2023
... read more boat is undercover with green carpet,so it'is looking beautiful,all management are peaceful Jumur dance is wonderful our all member danced with Jumur dancers we are all coming a sweet memories. Thanks to continue Mr Talukder.
Avijit SarkarMarch 17, 2022
Dipanjan BiswasMarch 17, 2022
... read more the stuff were very polite (Special mention- dipankar da).They did everything with professional manner with touch of heart. Strongly recommend them.
ataur rahamanMarch 17, 2022
... read more team, tour manager Subrata, boat captain Bapi da and our guide Tanmoy da was very cooperative and helpful. Our stay was in Sobuj Deep Resort, the location is next to the river and rooms are quite good in size, there 4 bedrooms can accommodate 2 families with one kid comfortably. The facilities and services of boat and resort was excellent. My objective was to spend some time with family in the nature, and a wild wish if we could spot the graceful royal Bengal tiger in the wild was 100% fulfilled. When I was researching for this tour, I found Sundarbans travel (Sonakshi travel) rated 4.5 among all, and I am not disappointed as well. Next time when I will visit Sundarbans again my choice will be Sundarbans travel. All over experience “The tour is mind blowing”.
Kaustav ChatterjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more staff. Just one regret with the govt to allow more routes inside core jungle to increase footfall at Sunderbans. All you can see is Deer. However i would surely visit again.
navin jayaramanMarch 17, 2022
... read more care of every group member as per the need, especially the elderly ones. I travelled with the parents and the staff members made the trip super comfortable for them as well. Thanks to each one of them!! 😊🙏 Would highly recommend Sonakshi Travels for the Sundarban trip.
Shuchita MitraMarch 17, 2022
... read more food with rustic touch...You're at a right place..Being at a place which is remote, Dinner variety options may be limited but enough to satisfy you..I had Aged people n kid travelling with me and they were taken good care..The accommodation & boat ride were very comforting n all the staffs, tour guide were helpful..I will recommend them to Families, friends for sure.
Arunima RoyMarch 11, 2023
Partha Sarathi MajumderFebruary 17, 2023
Raghavendra MunghateDecember 17, 2022
... read more package. Here are few points I would like to mention regarding the tour. PROS: 1) The tour organiser, Mr Talukdar gave us a very clear account of the package and there were no hidden cost. 2) We were appointed a manager ( Mr Subrata) during the tour, who was very polite in his dealings. Since I was travelling with my 4 yr old daughter, I had requested him to make few extra arrangements ( in meal) for her ….for which I never had to remind him again and all my requirements were taken care off. 3 ) since we were only 3 families travelling on one boat, we had enough space to ourselves as compared to other boats I saw during the trip were overly crowded. 4) Food was good and the preparation was quite homely. 5)As we had to spend considerable amount of time on the boat…. I was little apprehensive about the cleanliness of the washroom on the boat. But to my surprise, the washroom was sparkling clean. CONS: 1) Though the hotel we were made to stay was very well located… but the rooms were very basic. Rooms are newly made but not very well maintained. The floor of the rooms felt like they were not dusted and mopped in days.There were cobwebs here and there and bathroom had few centipedes. To my opinion..rooms could have been better than what was provided. Overall, it was a well organised trip and Mr Talukdar kept checking on us during the trip which I truly appreciate. We thoroughly enjoyed. And I would certainly recommend Sundarban Travel to my friends and family.
Vaishali SenguptaMarch 17, 2022
... read more date of departure our resort also exceptionally good I sincerely thanks to all cruise staff and manager to Mr. Talukdar.
Ashis RoySeptember 17, 2022
... read more bus that was allotted to us for taking us to the boat and we boarded it from Science City. It was a traveller and its was quite spacious and we travelled witout any problem. One thing that need to be looked upon is that there should be a helper with the driver in orderto contact the tourist for boarding the bus. The driver was speaking in his mobile while which can lead to a few problems. 2) Launch/Boat - It was quite big, spacious, the bathrooms were clean and the crews on board are very welll behaved. My 3 year old son really enjoyed the boat ride throughout the journey. 3) Resort - Some maintenance work is required in the rooms of the resort where we stayed at night. Things like ceiling fan regulator was not working, the flush in the wash room was not working and the room are not properly cleaned. It seemed to me that the room where I stayed was cleaned a long time back. 4) Food - The foods that were served to us was very well cooked. They were not at all spicy, not at all stale. Every time we were served hot and fresh foods. They also arranged food for my 3 year old son as per his requirement. 5) Employees/Crews - They are very well behaved, helpfull and always serving us by giving their level best.
20th Millenium KidMarch 17, 2022
... read more 10th to 12th of December, 2021 ( 2 nights 3 days package). I take pleasure in sharing my/ our experience with Mr Suvabrata ( Sonakshi Travels to us means Mr Suvabrata). # Mr Suvabrata, a perfect gentleman, with polite behaviour, understanding/ empathetic & extremely helpful nature. # Well organized & hastle free tour. # Polite & helpful staffs. # Punctuality is a batch.... whether it's transport, food, sight seeing, arrival or departure, everywhere time schedule was perfectly maintained. # Well designed itinerary & all places covered providing flexibility to the visitors. # Neat & clean car & boat. We were lucky to have a boat for ourselves. Hearty thanks to Mr Suvabrata for the unexpected surprise. # Place of stay was clean, beautiful & comfortable with all basic necessities including hot water. # Delicious food was served both veg & non-veg. # Pocket friendly package. No hidden charges or extra money demanded. Words will fall short to express my appreciation for MR SUVABRATA (SONAKSHI TRAVELS) & his TEAM. No one ( staffs) wore a frown throughout the trip & left not a single area for complaint. Once again I, on behalf of my family & friends, convey my wholehearted thanks to Mr Suvabrata & team. Looking forward to join you for some other trip.
Manisha Roy Chowdhury GhantiMarch 17, 2022
... read more group tours were available Mr Talukder arranged a customized tour for us & we were a little apprehensive as the two of us would be traveling alone . But he assured us about our safety & other facilities & truly everything was beyond our expectations. Right from our pickup, boat tours, hotel accommodation & food everything was well arranged. We have come back with sweet memories. Thank you Mr Talukder & every one at Sonakshi tours.
Leena MhatreMarch 17, 2022
... read more very beautiful ❤️👍🏻
Sandeep MukherjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more boat as well as car was also good. We thank you very much and want to refer in future to our friends n relatives.
K. MadhuNovember 17, 2022
Tripti DasJanuary 17, 2023
... read more people, beautiful presentation of dance and songs to beautiful boat and boatmen with guide. A journey with100% fulfilment. Willing to go again and again. Thanks a lot Sundarban Travel Jyotirmoy Chakraborty Chairman Ispat Cooperative Hospital
JYOTIRMOY CHAKRABORTYMarch 17, 2022
... read more was excellent..inspite some language problem staff were very very humble n cooperative n always willing to serve to our satisfaction...i surely will recommend my friends/ relatives to visit the place once in lifetime through Sonakshi Travels...🙏🙏🙏
Munna DewanJanuary 17, 2023
... read more homely environment, mainly we are extremely impressed the condition of the boat, cleanliness and food quality was superb. Except the chilli chicken preparation ( not upto the mark), the taste of the food was just like home made food. Resort location was good but not in good quality, need to look into this to provide the best service. Also the car condition is not good. Apart from these we enjoyed a lot throughout the tour. Special thanks to Mr.Talukdar and Team for organizing our memorable trip.
Amit SasmalMarch 17, 2022
... read more served us very well. Thank you for all your services.
Shaily GuptaMarch 17, 2022
... read more of staff was very good
DEV KUMAR PYNEDecember 17, 2022
... read more family including senior citizens and kids and had a nice experience. Thank you Mr. Talukdar and team.
Koushik PandaApril 17, 2022