Biodiversity under extreme threat in Hakaluki Haor

Moulvibazar Correspondent :

As the water level in Hakaluki Haor, the largest haor in Asia, has started to recede, illegal fishermen have become reckless. They are illegally killing juvenile fish with various types of prohibited nets including gillnets, current nets and other illegal nets in various beels of the haor.
Due to this, the fish resources, aquatic plants and biodiversity of Hakaluki Haor are under extreme threat.
It was observed that despite the ongoing campaign by the administration, a group of local fishermen are fishing with banned nets.
On Tuesday afternoon, a special operation was conducted in Hakaluki Haor under the leadership of Kulaura Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Nirbahi Magistrate Shah Zahurul Hossain and a large amount of illegal nets were seized and destroyed. During the operation, a large number of illegal nets were found in the haor.
About 5,000 meters of current nets, 300 Chinese doari nets and 6,000 chai nets were seized from various places. The market value of which is about 4 lakh taka. Later, these nets were taken to the banks of the haor and burned and destroyed. At that time, Kunj Lal was arrested for illegal fishing. A person named Biswas was arrested and a fine of 3 thousand taka was collected. Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md. Abu Masud, Upazila Cooperative Officer Suna Mohan Biswas and police members were present during the operation. Previously, on June 18 and September 22,
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shah Zahurul Hossain and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Mohammad Abu Masud conducted a mobile court to implement the Fisheries Conservation Act in the Kulaura section of the haor. During this, two nets of about 1,000 meters were seized and destroyed. It is learnt that Advocate Md. Masuk Mia, a resident of Rajnagar Upazila, took a lease of the ‘Chokia Bill Group (closed)’ water reservoir in Hakaluki Haor in the year 1432-1434 Bengali.
The organized fishermen illegally caught various species of fish including pona fish from that water reservoir using nets.
On June 29, the lessee, Md. Masuk Mia, submitted a written complaint to the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner Moulvibazar, Kulaura Upazila Executive Officer, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Officer-in-Charge (OC) seeking redress.
The complaint states that currently, it is the fish breeding season in various water bodies of the haor. Fish fry have been released. While the naturally occurring small fish are breeding, fish are being forcibly stolen and sold using prohibited nets. The production is about to be disrupted due to the damage to reproduction. Barik Mia, Faisal Mia, Shimul Mia, Dulal Mia, Parul Mia and their fraudulently organized group of Sadipur village in the upazila are leading this work.
It is known those two decades ago, there were more than 110 species of native fish in Hakaluki Haor. Now, it has come down to less than 50 species.
Various species of native fish including Magur, Rita, Nanid, Baghair, Chital, Rani Fish, Elong have almost disappeared from the Haor. Hakaluki is one of the countries
Being the main source of fish, the fish here goes to different parts of the country to meet the local demand. The fish of this haor are very delicious. It includes Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Kalo Baus, Ir, Boal, Shoal, Gajar, Pangas, Ghania and small species of Koi, Magur, Pabda, Singh, Puti, Tengra, Bhera, Mala,
All species of fish are found, including queen fish and live fish. In short, there was no species of fish that was not found in the haor. Many species of fish have now become extinct due to uncontrolled hunting.
Local environmental activists Muktadir Hussain, Mahfuz Shakil, Mohiuddin Ripon, said that organized fishermen are freely fishing in Hakaluki Haor every day with nets. Due to which the environment of the haor is currently very critical. Due to the illegal nets catching mother fish and fry, the fishery resources are being destroyed extensively. To protect the environment of the haor
It is the need of the hour to undertake a planned development project by creating a permanent fish sanctuary.
Kulaura Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Abu Masud said, “We are conducting regular campaigns to protect the fish fry in the haor. More than a meter of nets have been seized and burned. Not only legal action will be taken, but only if awareness is raised among the people of Hakaluki Haor, illegal net and pona fishing will be stopped.
He said, “We have conducted several raids after receiving reports of illegal fishing with banned nets in Hakaluki Haor. It is difficult to protect the haor and its biodiversity in this way if the locals are not aware. Supervision and raids will continue to protect the haor’s fisheries and biodiversity.”
In some areas, the administration is regularly operating mobile courts to implement the Fisheries Conservation Act.