Sea fish resources is under threat as spawns (renu pona) are being caught illegally and randomly from at least 50 points of Bishkhali, Burishwar and Paira rivers estuaries on the Bay of Bengal in Barguna.
Illegal current nets are being used in catching the spawns of shrimps Bagda and Golda, but the fries of other varieties of sea fish are also getting caught in those nets.
The spawns of other varieties of sea fish, which are being netted, are however not being released back into the river from where they are being caught everyday.
For that reason, thousands of young fish of other varieties are dying everyday, which will eventually affect the stock of sea fish in the Bay of Bengal.
Those who are catching the spawns from the estuaries of the rivers on the Bay of Bengal have admitted to doing so by managing fisheries department, police and ruling party leaders in the locality.
An estimate, provided by those engaged in netting spawns in the rivers, say the spawns worth around Tk 50 lakh are being smuggled to Khulna from Barguna district every day.
Three to four trucks of spawns are smuggled to Khulna from Barguna Sadar, Taltali and Patharghat upazila every day. Each truck of spawns is worth Tk 10 to 15 lakh.
Spawn trader Imran, who is from Bogi village at Taltali upazila, says: “Spawns are caught and brought to Gulbunia by trawler at midnight every day and then taken to Khulna by truck. All these things are done in collusion with fishing officers and police.”
Seeking anonymity, a spawn trader, from Golbunia itself, says: “Fishermen catch Bagda spawns by setting their current nets against the current of the rivers.
Other varieties of spawns also get caught in the nets, but they are thrown away rather than being released back into the rivers and so thousands of sea spawns die every day.”
Several locals and spawn traders, from Bakerganj-Betagi highway area, seeking anonymity, says: “Spawns are smuggled into Khulna through this route every day.
“Though police seize trucks of spawns, but free them for money or on an underhand dealing.”
District Fisheries Officer Bankim Chandra Biswas says: “We are continuing special drives against catching and trading spawns along with coast guards despite our lack of strength in manpower and other logistical support.”
He added that they had meanwhile seized and released 90 lakh spawns into the rivers.