The government’s 58-day ban on ilish fishing, aimed at protecting breeding grounds and preserving marine biodiversity, is set to end at midnight on Wednesday.
Coastal fishermen have already completed preparations for their return to the sea after two months of inactivity.
The fishing ban was imposed to ensure the reproduction, conservation of marine fish resources, and promote sustainable fishing in Bangladesh’s maritime waters.
The Department of Fisheries expressed hope that once the ban ends, the supply of sea fish in the market will increase, leading to a drop in prices.
Since 2015, the government has enforced a 65-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal—from May 20 to July 23—prohibiting all types of fish and shrimp trawling for conservation and breeding purposes.
However, fisheries researchers, fishermen, and traders have long been urging the government to align the ban with India’s schedule.
Responding to these demands, the government has now revised the ban period, reducing it by seven days. The 58-day ban was in effect from April 15 to June 11, aligning with India's timeframe.
According to the Divisional Fisheries Office, of the 421,093 registered fishermen in the Barisal division, 146,029 are sea-going fishermen operating with 7,405 boats.
Alfaz Uddin Sheikh, director of the Divisional Fisheries Office, said that food relief has already been allocated for 42 days of the 58-day ban period. The remaining assistance will be distributed to the sea-going fishermen upon their return.
He added that with the ban now lifted, the market supply of fish—including ilish—is expected to rise, resulting in lower prices due to increased availability.
