Ban on Hilsa Netting Takes Effect
Huge current nets, mother fish seized in Barisal zone
Authorities seized at leaset 71,000 metres of current net and 2265 kg of mother hilsa in different coastal districts as the 11-day ban on hilsa netting, meant for ensuring safe spawning of the popular fish during the peak breeding period, started yesterday.
Fifty-four fishermen have been jailed or fined for violating the ban as of filing this report yesterday evening.
Our Barisal Correspondent reports: Law enforcers seized 145 kg of hilsa and 3,800 metres of net, jailed five fishermen for one month and fined another Tk 2,000 in Barisal, said district fishery officer Wahiduzzaman.
In Barguna, 960 kg of hilsa and 1,200 metres of net were seized and 19 fishermen were fined Tk 19,000, said Ashraf Hossain, in charge of ban monitoring control room in the district.
Pritish Kumar Mallik, Bhola district fishery officer, said 11 fishermen were fined Tk 11,000, fifteen others jailed for a month, 20,000 metres of net and 500 kg of hilsa were seized in the district for violating the ban on hilsa netting as of filing this report yesterday evening.
During the September 25 to October 5 ban on netting hilsa in 7,000 square kilometres of hilsa breeding grounds at four points of seven coastal districts, authorities also imposed restrictions on marketing, sale and transport of the fish across the country, said Bankim Chandra, assistant director of Barisal office of fisheries directorate.
The district and upazila administrations, the police, Rapid Action Battalion, navy and coastguard have been asked to monitor the enforcement of the ban and take action in case of any violation.
The 11-day restriction would ensure safety to around 1.5 crore mother hilsa, giving them chance to naturally lay 46,800 kg of eggs, and it will eventually help production of huge hilsa worth hundreds of crores of taka, fishery researchers hope.
But poverty pushes poor fishermen in the coastal districts to catch hilsa even during the ban, said Israil Pandit, president of Bangladesh Khudra Matsyajibi Samity.
Our Patuakhali Correspondent reports: Authorities seized 46,000 metres of current net used to catch hilsa in Sadar, Baufal and Kalapara upazilas under the district yesterday.
They also seized 60 kg of mother hilsa netted by the fishermen.
The coastguard in a drive on Paira River in the morning seized 15,000 metres of current net. Baufal upazila administration seized 11,000 metres of current net from Tentulia River while and 20,000 metres of current net was seized from Andharmanik River in Kalapara upazila in a joint drive by the upazila administration and fisheries department.
All the seized nets were later burnt down.
Our Madaripur Correspondent reports: A mobile court seized 600 kg of hilsa and fined three fishermen Tk six thousand for illegal sale of the fish at Utrail haat in Shibpur upazila under the district yesterday.
A Correspondent from Bhola adds: Nurul Islam, president of Khudra Matsyajibi Samity of Bhola, urged the authorities to arrange compensation and rehabilitation for the fishermen affected by the 11-day ban on catching and sale of hilsa.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments