Fishing with current nets goes on defying ban

In flagrant defiance of the existing ban, mindless fishing with current nets in the coastal waters of the Sundarbans goes on.

The fisheries and livestock ministry has recently taken a decision to launch a crackdown to stop netting of fish with current nets, especially to protect shrimp fry.

Forest department and Bangladesh Coastguard launched a joint drive against fishing with illegal current nets on January 4 which will continue till January 18.

Sources said several thousand people from Koyra, Dakope and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna district, Shyamnagar and Ashashuni upazilas of Satkhira district and Mongla and Sarankhola upazilas of Bagerhat district are involved in catching fish with current nets from the sea and different rivers and canals in the Sundarbans and maintain livelihood by selling the catches.

Some seasonal fishermen setting up makeshift houses continue catching fish in the coastal waters this way, causing much harm to the fish resources in the name of collecting fry of lobster and other species of shrimp.

The coastal areas are home to several species of shrimp, including bagda, galda, chaka, harina, chapda, kanthalia, baghatar bhinua, ghusa, matka, rasnai and chatka, various types of fish, including pangash, tengra, magur, med, bhetki, datina, kaun, bhangon, poa, china, chela, dhela, crabs and several species of zooplankton.

They are being affected due to collection of  shrimp fry which are usually netted by using fine nets.

Defying the ban imposed by the government, the fishermen are collecting fish fry from the Bay, rivers, canals and the coastal areas of the Sundarbans using current nets, resulting in destruction of ecology and premature death of fishes.

Rabiul Alam, assistant professor of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology of Khulna University, said due to lack of enforcement of the ban, existence of several species of fish is under threat.

GM Waheduzzaman, owner of a shrimp enclosure in Koyra, said the local shrimp farmers in the area collect the river-based shrimp fry from the local fishermen and release those into their enclosures.

Jahir Uddin Ahmed, divisional forest official, said the patrol teams of the Forest Department, conducted separate drives for checking the use of current nets and actions were taken against the violators.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda said the government has taken necessary steps to protect the fish species from disappearing.