Plenty of substandard Ilish poured in the wholesale markets of Barisal yesterday, indicating that netting of the popular fish went unabated during the 11-day ban that ended on Wednesday.
The government imposed a ban on catching, transporting and hoarding of Ilish fish from October 5 to 15 across the country to boost its production through the protection of the mother fish.
After visiting the wholesale market of Ilish at the Barisal Port Road area, this correspondent learnt that at least 26 fishing trawlers loaded with hundred mounds of Ilish arrived there from coastal areas under Bhola, Patuakhali, and Barguna districts yesterday morning.
However, qualities of these fishes were low and they were being sold at Tk120,00 per mound, much lower than the usual rate, said Nirob Hossain Tutul, a wholesale Ilish trader. Ajit Das Monu, president of Hilsa Wholesalers Association, claimed that the Ilish were netted after the ban period was over.
Barisal District Fishery Officer Bimal Chandra Das said: “Seeing the condition of the huge catch of Ilish fishes that has arrived from the coastal areas to Barisal, it can be assumed that they were netted during the ban period as it takes at least 2-4 days reach Barisal form those coastal areas.”
“We have nothing to do as the traders claim that the fishes were netted after the ban period,” he added.
The fishery officer said 415 fishermen were jailed, 440 were fined with Tk21.91 lakh and 855 cases had been lodged by 555 mobile courts in 845 drives, 14.33 metric tonnes of Ilish, 53.94 lakh metres of fishing nets worth Tk12.05 crore, and 24 fishing boats and trawlers were seized in Barisal division for violating Ilish fishing ban until Wednesday midnight.
