African Magur (Clarias Gariepinus) is going to be banned to save local fishes from its devouring in the country.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock recently decided to prohibit importing, breeding, culturing, carrying and selling the giant fish.
African Magur, well known as a giant species of fish, eat local small fishes. As a result, local variety fishes cannot grow along with such giant fishes, said officials at the minister.
The same ministry also decided to restrict dewatering fisheries, such as water bodies where local fishes are being produced and grown to ensure that none can attempt to destroy any local fish.
Keeping all the provisions, the ministry has decided to amend the “Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985.”
A gazette, signed by the ministry’s Senior Assistant Secretary Md Muhibuzzaman, was issued recently amending the rules to protect and preserve the local varieties of fish in the country.
According to the amended rules, no persons shall import, breed, culture, carry, sell, receive, market, expose and possess African Magurs. It will be strictly prohibited in the country.
The amended rules also read that catching, carrying, selling, receiving, marketing, exposing and possessing of several local fishes will be prohibited for a certain period.
Catching, carrying, selling, receiving, marketing, exposing and possessing of Hilsha fishes below 25 centimeters in length, well known as Jatka, will be restricted in between November and June of any year.
It will also be prohibited to catch, carry, sell, receive, market, expose and possess Catla, Rui, Mrigal, Kalbaush and Ghania fishes that are below 25 centimeters in length in between July and December of the year.
It will also be prohibited to catch, carry, sell, receive, market, expose and possess Pungas fishes below 30 centimeters in length in between November and July, Silon, Bhola and Ayre fishes in between February and June and Boal fishes in between April and August.