Despite a government ban, illicit ilish catching is continuing unabated along a 42-kilometre stretch of the Padma River in Rajbari, endangering the breeding process of the national fish of Bangladesh.
Local sources reported that a group of unscrupulous fishermen is flagrantly disregarding the 22-day ban, catching mother ilish and selling them openly on riverbanks during daylight hours.
The government ban, enforced from October 13, aims to protect ilish during its peak breeding period. The restrictions are set to remain in place until November 3.
Witnesses from areas like Urakanda and Borot Antarmor in Sadar upazila have described the scenes of fishermen preparing to venture out on the river in defiance of the law.
At Antarmor, numerous fishing boats were seen on the river, with teams of three to five fishermen catching anywhere from 10 to 30 kilograms of ilish per outing.
Both men and women were seen gathering on the riverbanks to purchase ilish directly from the fishermen, underscoring the pervasiveness of the illegal trade. Fishermen revealed that ilish were being sold for between Tk350 and Tk400 per kilogram for fish weighing 200 to 400 grams.
Larger fish, weighing between 700 to 800 grams, fetched between Tk800 and Tk900, while those nearing one kilogram sold for up to Tk1,200.
Retailers, benefiting from a discount of 100 grams per kilogram, were making a profit of Tk50 to Tk100 by reselling the fish within nearby villages, even offering home delivery.
This illegal activity continues despite the presence of a task force formed to monitor the situation. Fishermen are reportedly tracking the task force's movements, only venturing out to fish after the authorities leave the area, allowing them to evade detection.
Challenges for Enforcement
Local fisheries officials have acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing the ban due to a lack of manpower and financial resources.
Mostafa Al Rajib, a fisheries officer in Sadar upazila, noted that his team conducts three drives per day but is limited by the scarcity of personnel and equipment.
Besides, the team must rely on magistrates to conduct enforcement operations, further hindering their ability to curb the illegal activity.
"We need magistracy power and sufficient financial support to conduct regular drives. With these, we could prevent the ongoing mother hilsa catching more effectively," Al Rajib said.
Emran Mahmud Tuhin, in charge of the Daulatdia River Police Outpost, mentioned that the police are assisting the fisheries department in its efforts to protect the ilish.
When asked about the ongoing ilish fishing, he said the authorities were unaware of the scale of the illegal operations but assured that legal action would be taken if verified.
The illegal catching of ilish not only threatens the fish population but also undermines the government's conservation efforts. Immediate action is needed to enforce the ban and safeguard the future of the ilish fishery.
