Sun-drying marine fish at Junput-Biramput, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Sun-drying marine fish is a long-established and flourishing business along the coast of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal, India. This article documents the dried fish ('Shutki machh') production sites known locally at Junput-Biramput village, drawing on the author's conversations with leading producers between November 2025 and January 2026, supported by published literature and local news reports.

Purba Medinipur leads West Bengal in sun-dried marine fish production and trade. From its Matsya Khotis, dried fish travels to markets across north Bengal, the north-eastern states, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and beyond, supplying regions where fresh or frozen marine fish is unavailable. The article explains why drying matters: it is the least expensive method of preserving surplus low-value catch, removing moisture to prevent bacterial and enzymatic decay and transforming cheap fish into higher-value products.

At Junput-Biramput, where commercial drying began about 70-75 years ago, some 550-600 producers now operate. The article describes the full production chain in sorting, cleaning, removing operculum bones, salting in cement tanks, spreading fish on raised split-bamboo platforms, and hanging Bombay duck and ribbonfish to preserve their colour. It details species-specific methods, salt ratios, drying times, packing, and the road transport network that moves dried fish 30-900 km or more by pick-up truck and large vehicle. The work also records the earnings of women casual workers, who perform much of the bone-removal, hanging, sorting, and packing, and notes a 2011 government scheme that provided solar fish dryers to a women-led cooperative. The article also covers the food culture of dry fish in West Bengal.