Ilish netting resumed yesterday after ending an 11-day ban imposed by the directorate of fisheries against catching, selling and transporting of the delicious fish.
The restriction was imposed to ensure safe spawning and protecting the Ilish production under proper breeding environment and shelter the mother fish from any disturbance.
Bazlur Rashid, divisional officer and deputy director fishery directorate, claimed that the imposed ban observed successfully across the division.
A total of 388 fishermen have been jailed and 393 fined for violating Ilish catching ban during the 11-day ban. During the period, a total of 486 mobile courts conducted 733 drives against violating Ilish fishing ban in Barisal division.
Shamsul Alam, divisional engineer of fishery department and duty officer of the control room opened in this connection at Barisal, gave the statistics.
Apart from giving punishments to the fishermen, 9.51 tonnes of Ilish, 47.87 lakh metres fishing nets worth Tk10.58 core and 13 fishing boats were seized during the period. Enforcing agency officials till this report during 11-day drives.
Fishery researchers hoped that at least 1.5 core mother-Ilish would be saved from catching during this 11-day restriction giving chances to naturally lay 46,800 kilograms eggs.
Israil Pandit, president Bangladesh Khudra Matasyajibi Samity, said: “We are not protesting the government steps, but we are urginh the authorities instead of arrest, seizing boats, nets and fining the poor fishermen, to give compensation and rehabilitation for the affected fishermen.
