22-day hilsha catching ban starts

As the 22-day ban on catching hilsha begins Thursday, the fisheries and livestock ministry has warned of taking stern action against those who violate the restriction during the high breeding season of the national fish.

"Mobile courts will be conducted to bring those to book who will violate the ban. Law enforcers and local administrations concerned have been asked to take necessary steps so that no fish catching boats-trawlers venture into rivers and seas during the 22-day ban," said fisheries and livestock minister S M Rezaul Karim at a press conference at his secretariat office on Wednesday.

The government has imposed a ban on the catching of hilsha fish from October 12 to November 2 on a vast area of 7,000 square kilometres along with 27 districts in the country for the conservation of mother fishes during its high breeding season.

Apart from the hilsha breeding grounds, all the activities including procurement, marketing, buying, selling, transportation and hoarding of hilsha would be stopped for 22 days across the country.

During the 22 days, a massive combined operation would be carried out at all the fisheries ghats, warehouses, hat-bazaars and chain shops across the country. The fisheries department, navy, air force, coast guard, police, river police, RAB, BGB, district and upazila administrations including the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry will implement the ban.

The contribution of hilsha to the country's total fish production is 11%, the highest of the single species. A total of 5 lakh people are directly involved while 20-25 lakh are indirectly involved with the catch of hilsha fish in the country.

S M Rezaul Karim said the government has already sent 872.18 tonnes of food assistance for 5,54,887 fisherman families in 155 upazilas under 37 districts.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Dr Nahid Rashid, Additional Secretary Md Abdul Quayum and Department of Fisheries Director General K Mahbubul Haque, among others, were present at the press conference.

/KN/