Barisal Correspondent :
The two-month total ban against fishing 422 kilometers areas on five major rivers in six districts of the southern region imposed by the fishing directorate starts on Friday without any propagation and compensative subsidy.
The prohibition effecting from early hours of March 1 to April 30 introduced for preventing fishermen from catching fish fry, including jatka (hilsa fry) to facilitate safe spawning and increase national fishing wealth, said Azizul Huq, acting divisional fishery officer.
According to the regular yearly plan, 422 kilometers areas on Ilisha, Meghna, Tentulia, Bishkhali and Padma rivers of Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Laxmipur region has been declared sanctuaries of fishes for this period since 2006, said Bimal Chandra Das, district fishery officer(Hilsa) said.
The divisional and district fishery office sources added that government has imposed the 60-day total ban against fishing in 100 kilometers from Shatnol to Char Alexander and 20 kilometers from Shariatpur to Chandpur of Meghna, Padma Rivers and branches, 90 kilometers from Madanpur, Char Ilisha to Char-Shababazpur of Meghna, Ilisha Rivers and branches, 130 kilometers from Veduria Kalapara to Char Rustom Charmanik of Bishkhali, 82 kilometers of Kirtankhola and Arial Khan rivers from Hobinagor to Char Megha and Tentulia Rivers and branches of estuary areas.
Divisional and district offices of the fishery directorate said they sending letter to law enforcing agencies and local administrations asked help to execute the ban and planned to hold some exchange of views meetings with fishermen groups.
Israil Pandit, president Khudra Matsyajibi Samity (small fishermen association), however, said the ban starts without any propagation, sufficient compensative subsidy, awareness and punitive drives and so it would not be successful.
Due to lack of fund, steps including propagation, motivation, special grants, facilities and alternative employment opportunities yet to be taken and yet not provided for the affected and unemployed fishermen, the fishery officials acknowledged.
Bimal Chandra Das, Barishal district fishery officer (hilsa), said anyone found fishing during the period from March 1 to April 30 in the restricted river-areas will be subjected to punitive action – fine of Tk 5,000 to 10,000, jail and burning his fishing nets.
