10-day ban on hilsa netting not enough for fingerlings to grow
Expert suggests month-long restriction
Experts and fisheries officials have suggested that the government extend the yearly ban on hilsa catching at least for one month to get desired result to boost hilsa production, especially in the Bay and adjoining rivers.
The government-imposed 10-day ban on hilsa catching from October 15 to 24 every year is not sufficient as all mother hilsa fishes do not lay egg at a time, says Dr Sultan Ahmed, chairman of aquaculture department in Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU).
Besides, more time should be given before and after laying egg in the rivers to enable fingerlings of hilsa to go to the sea and grow into matured fish, he said.
As local fishermen start catching hilsa in rivers with different nets like bada, gher and behundi just after the end of ban period, huge fingerlings are caught in nets with others species of fishes and it leaves negative impact on the growth of the popular fish, he said.
"If the government extends the ban period for minimum one month, the fingerlings would be saved from being netted and we can earn huge quantities of foreign currency by exporting hilsa," Dr Sultan said.
Alongside extending the ban period, he emphasised its proper implementation for the greater interest of national economy.
"We have already sent a proposal to our higher authorities for extending the ban period for one month to save the delicious fish," said Iqbal Hossain, Patuakhali district fisheries officer.
Every year from October 15 to 24, fisheries department imposes ban on catching hilsa in four areas of the coastal region -- Latachaplee point near Kuakata beach under Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district, Sherkali to Haitkandi point under Mirersarai upazila in Chittagong district, North Kutubdia to Gandamara point in Cox's Bazar district and North Tajumuddin to West Syed Aulia point under Bhola district.
The department selected these four areas covering 7,000 square kilometres as the 'best places' for breeding of hilsa as mother hilsa in large numbers come to these areas to lay egg during the breeding period, said the fisheries officer.
Local fisheries offices also impose ban in some rivers outside the above-mentioned areas to save mother hilsa during the reproduction season but a section of greedy fishermen often ignore it.
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