A section of fishermen have continued catching fish with illegally set large trap nets and enclosures in the Padma river in Shariatpur, posing a threat to different species of fish.
The rampant use of illegal bamboo enclosures and fishing nets is threatening for the overall production of fish and thus prohibited through an ongoing fishing ban to preserve juvenile fishes, especially ilish in 20 kilometres of fish sanctuary.
However, despite the ban, during a recent visit this correspondent found current nets were being used in different places in the Padma River from Zajira's Naodoba area to Bhedarganj's Tarabania area.
A total of 30 such enclosures –ranging from 500 metres to 1000 metres in length– were seen set up at: Tarabania, Dularchar, Kachikata, Nariar Charmohan, Monirabad, Charatra, Nowpara areas in Bhedarganj upazila and Kunderchar, Baburchar, Palerchar and Pinepara areas in Zajira upazila.
According to the district fisheries office, the Padma and Meghna rivers which flow through 69 kilometres area of Shariatpur district –engaging 16,000 people in fishing– produced 5,240 tonnes of fish last year, but locals fear the production will be much less this year.
The large enclosures and banned nets disrupt the smooth flow of water and movement of boats through the river has also been hindered due to the overuse of the illegal dispositions.
Motaleb Hossain, a fisherman of Zajira, said he has been using two enclosures to catch at least Tk90000 worth of fish per day, and did not know anything about the fishing ban or the prohibition.
He said: "We have used engine-run boats earlier for fishing. But as it is now difficult to navigate through the river with boats as it has been narrowed by sediments, we have been fishing with bamboo enclosures.
"Nobody told us it's illegal to fish like this nor did anyone prevent us from doing so," he added.
Giyas Uddin, another fisherman of Naria upazila, denied using any illegal nets and said he, along with other fishermen, abides by every law and regulation imposed on them.
When asked about the enclosures and current nets he was using, Giyas denied that those are in fact current nets and said: "Why would it be illegal to fish with fences? Nobody told us not to use these."
Talking about the difficulty they face every day to navigate through the river, trawler driver Delowar Hossain, of Naria-Charatra route in the Padma, said diagonally set enclosures on the river have been hindering their navigation, and increasing cost and time needed much more than normal.
Abdur Rouf, an officer at the Shariatpur District Fisheries Office, said he is unaware of fishing by current nets or bamboo enclosures in the district.
He said: "Legal actions will be taken after upazila fisheries offices are contacted for more information regarding the matter."