Govt bans Sucker Fish

Staff Reporter :
The government has finally banned the ‘sucker mouth catfish’ species on the ground of a major threat to the indigenous fish and aquatic ecology.
A circular was issued in this regard signed by Deputy Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Mrinal Kanti Dey on January 11, ministry sources said yesterday.
Earlier on 25 September last year, the ministry issued a circular seeking proposal for the amendment of rule 18 of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 to ban the sucker mouth fish.
During that time it was said if there was any objection or suggestion from any quarters or individuals, it can be informed in writing within two months of issuing the circular to the ministry.
Now the final circular was issued on January 11,
saying “As two months have been over, the government has taken final decision about the amendment of the rules based on the proposed opinions.”
Rule 2 of 18 of the Act stated that “No person shall import, breed, culture, carry, sell, receive or take, market, stock, expose and possess any species of fish of ‘Sucker mouth catfish’ group.”
It was said that the fish was brought to Bangladesh in the 1980s from Brazil as an unapproved ornamental fish. Currently the species of sucker fish excessively are found in rivers, canals, Beels, ponds and other water bodies with the indigenous fishes. It is a threat to the native species of fishes.
According to the Fisheries Act, 201, the foreign fish farming that harms indigenous fish species in Bangladesh is a punishable offence.
The ministry sources said that though the sucker fish is not a predatory one, it feed on algae-like food in water bodies, damaging the aquatic ecosystem and it can cause a food crisis for other fishes.
The ministry has already directed the destruction of this fish found in open or stagnant water bodies. There should be no breeding in the hatcheries and the culture of the fish in the aquarium should be stopped.
The government banned Pirhana fish in 2008 and African Magur in 2014. But still such fishes are found selling in the markets at different times.