Crab hunting goes on unabated in Sundarbans despite ban
Huge quantity of crabs are available at different markets in Khulna district despite ban on catching and sale of the crustaceans in the Sundarbans during the ongoing breeding period. The photo was taken from Chalna municipality area.Photo: STAR
Hunting of mother crabs in different rivers, creeks and canals of the Sundarbans is going on unabated, defying a ban by the Ministry of Environment and Forests during the ongoing breeding season. January and February are considered as breeding period of crabs and authorities have imposed ban on its catching and sale in the Sundarbans during the time to protect the species. But the restriction, even though applicable only in the Sundarbans, is hardly maintained as unauthorised hunters as well as a section of dishonest officials and employees of forest department are allegedly involved in crab hunting in different water bodies of the mangrove forest area. The government is deprived of huge revenue due to the callous act while random hunting of mother crabs poses threat to the species. Several crab hunters on condition of anonymity said they catch crabs and sell it at different places in Khulna city and upazilas under the district even during the ban period as they have no other source of earning. Now male crabs weighing 500 grams each is selling at Tk 850 per kg while those weighing 400 gram, 300 gram, 200 gram and 100 gram are selling at Tk 750, 650, 600 and 230 per kg respectively, said crab traders of Khulna city and Chalna Bazar in Dakope upazila of Khulna district. Mother crabs weighing 180 to 200 gram is selling at Tk 750 a kg, they said. "No one is permitted to catch crabs during January and February. We have continued our operation in water bodies of the Sundarbans to stop hunting of crabs during the breeding period," said Md Zahirul Huq, assistant conservator of forests of West Wing of Sundarbans Forest Division.
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