The government has imposed a ban on catching all kinds of fishes, including the much sought after Hilsa, in all points of Bhola, Meghna, Tetulia and within 190 kilometre in the Bay of Bengal estuary.
Under the ban issued by the Fisheries and Livestock ministry, catching, carrying, transporting, selling or possessing of all kinds of fishes are prohibited from October 5 to October 15.
Confirming the information, Bhola fisheries department official Pritish Kumar Mallik said, these 11 days were high spawning season for Hilsa and that is why the ban was imposed. Police, magistrate, coastguards, and teams from the department would be vigilant to monitor the ban.
“Already mass campaign has been organized in seven upazilas of Bhola along with distributing leaflets among the fishermen. If they break the law, punitive measures will be taken against them,” he added.
In previous years, there was restriction only for certain points but this year the ministry has imposed ban on all points across the country to allow a safe haven for the egg bound fishes.
Meanwhile, the decision has enraged fishermen, who were looking forward to the breeding season for a good catch. They protested the government decision taken without considering any alternative earning source for the community, which is dependent on Hilsa catching for livelihood.
Businessman of Bhola's Charfashion upazila Mahbubur Rahman said, “People involved with fishing business had been facing losses since there were not enough fishes at the beginning of the season. Now with the ban in place, it would be really difficult for us to celebrate the upcoming Eid.”
Many fishermen alleged that though general fishermen would bear the brunt of the ban, some influential people would reap more profit by employing their own fishermen to catch Hilsa during this period.
