Hilsa fishing resumes as 15-day ban ends

Hilsa netting have resumed yesterday as a 15-day ban on catching of the popular fish ended on Friday.

The ban was imposed by the directorate of fisheries since September 25 to protect mother hilsa and ensure its safe spawning in all the coastal rivers.

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Bazlur Rashid, deputy director of fisheries department in the division, said the restriction against catching, selling and transporting the fish across the division was carried out successfully.

During the ban period, 1387 anti-hilsa netting drives took place, 880 mobile courts operated and 848 cases were lodged.

The mobile courts sentenced 531 fishermen to different jail terms and realised Tk 16.25 lakh as fine from 298 others.

The courts also seized 50.29 lakh metres of fishing nets and nearly 11 tons of mother hilsa in six districts of Barisal division, Bazlur further said.

Ajit Das Monu, president of Barisal Fish Wholesalers' Association, said over 2.55 lakh registered fishermen in the division are upbeat and the hilsa market became lively with the ban on netting the popular fish ended on Friday.

Israil Pandit, president of Bangladesh Khudra Matsyajibi Samity, said they urged the authorities concerned to compensate and rehabilitate the affected fishermen instead of jail, fine and burning their fishing nets.

In Patuakhali, huge quantities of mother hilsa were seen being sold at different markets of the district at lower prices.

Locals alleged that some corrupt and ill-intentioned fishermen netted the fish violating the 15-day restriction, stored those at secret places and as the ban period is over they brought them to the markets for sale.