Hilsa ban from Oct 7-28
42b eggs likely to be released this year
Syed Shemul Parvez :
The government has imposed a ban on catching, selling and transporting of hilsa for 22 days from October 7 to protect breeding of this most favourite fish.
According to experts, there is a possibility of releasing around 42 billion eggs this year if the authorities concern can control the fishermen properly by providing them incentives, especially food, during the ban period.
It is alleged that defying the ban, a section of fishermen have been netting hilsa in Padma-Meghna rivers and selling those at different makeshift markets for the last couple of days. There is a great threat of vanishing hilsa, if the administration can’t create a convenient environment for the fishermen.
Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Institute of Fisheries Research and also a hilsa expert Dr. Md. Anisur Rahman, said hilsa catching is banned twice in a year. It was banned for eight weeks in March-April season so that jatka can grow mature while three weeks in October for releasing eggs of mothers hilsa.
During the October ban period, reproductionable hilsa can come to the river from the sea and can also return safely to the sea after releasing eggs. That is why all kinds of catching are kept closed in Padma-Meghna. If there is a
violation of law, there are provisions for jail and fines, he added.
Dr. Rahman further said, in Bangladesh, about 5 lakh metric tonnes of hilsa were produced in 2017. Fisheries Research Institute hopes to produce the same amount of hilsa again this year.
According to experts, about 200 crore hilsa may come in the market this year.
Fisheries Research Institute sources said, hilsa production has been doubled in the last few years due to the prohibition of hilsa. In 2017, it was prohibited to catch all kinds of fishes, including hilsa, from October 1- 22 while this year from October 7- 28. During this time catching, stocking, purchasing and transporting are prohibited.
According to Chandpur District Fisheries Department, there are 51,180 registered hilsa fishermen in Matlab North, Matlab South, Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar upazilas of the district. Mikings were made and leaflets distributed among the fisherman not to catch fish during these 22 days.
The government has imposed a ban on catching, selling and transporting of hilsa for 22 days from October 7 to protect breeding of this most favourite fish.
According to experts, there is a possibility of releasing around 42 billion eggs this year if the authorities concern can control the fishermen properly by providing them incentives, especially food, during the ban period.
It is alleged that defying the ban, a section of fishermen have been netting hilsa in Padma-Meghna rivers and selling those at different makeshift markets for the last couple of days. There is a great threat of vanishing hilsa, if the administration can’t create a convenient environment for the fishermen.
Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Institute of Fisheries Research and also a hilsa expert Dr. Md. Anisur Rahman, said hilsa catching is banned twice in a year. It was banned for eight weeks in March-April season so that jatka can grow mature while three weeks in October for releasing eggs of mothers hilsa.
During the October ban period, reproductionable hilsa can come to the river from the sea and can also return safely to the sea after releasing eggs. That is why all kinds of catching are kept closed in Padma-Meghna. If there is a
violation of law, there are provisions for jail and fines, he added.
Dr. Rahman further said, in Bangladesh, about 5 lakh metric tonnes of hilsa were produced in 2017. Fisheries Research Institute hopes to produce the same amount of hilsa again this year.
According to experts, about 200 crore hilsa may come in the market this year.
Fisheries Research Institute sources said, hilsa production has been doubled in the last few years due to the prohibition of hilsa. In 2017, it was prohibited to catch all kinds of fishes, including hilsa, from October 1- 22 while this year from October 7- 28. During this time catching, stocking, purchasing and transporting are prohibited.
According to Chandpur District Fisheries Department, there are 51,180 registered hilsa fishermen in Matlab North, Matlab South, Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar upazilas of the district. Mikings were made and leaflets distributed among the fisherman not to catch fish during these 22 days.
