Our Correspondent, Barishal :
A sixty days restrictions against hilsa netting in rivers, selling and transporting the fish, starts from early Monday March 1, 2021 at the six Hilsa sanctuaries of the country.
This ban is imposed in the moving areas of this fish to give safe spawning of growing Jatka fries to mother hilsa.
The ban will cover 432 km areas under 6 districts including 3 districts of Barisal division including Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, confirmed officials of divisional Fisheries Department.
Masud Ara Momy, Fisheries Officer, Dhaka, told the ban was introduced in 2005 through four sanctuaries. At present, in addition to the 3 districts of Barisal division, it will be implemented in the rivers of Chandpur, Shariatpur and Laxmipur.
During the ban-period none would be allowed to net fish in the river in restricted areas and ban also been imposed against selling and marketing of hilsa, told Anisur Rahman Talukdar, divisional fishery officcer.
Directions have been given to all Upazila Nirbahi officers of concerned areas to be cautious for monitoring implementation of ban.
Fisheries department already distributed propagational leaflets to make aware the fishermen.
Preparations for conducting drive of mobile court against violators of the ban, the fishery official sources said .
According to the Fisheries Department, the restriction imposed areas included 100 km from Shatnal Point in Chadpur district to Char Alexander point in Laxmipur district, 90 km from Char Ilisha to Char Pial in Bhola district, 100 km from Char Veduria in Bhola district to Char Rustam in Patuakhali district, 82 Km in Sadar , Mehendiganj, Hijla in Barishal district , 20 km of Naria and Vederganj in Shariatpur district and 40 km of Andharamanik river in Kalapara of Patuakhali district .
‘This time the fishermen of ban affected 6 districts will be given 40 kg of rice per card through VGF.
The rice is already being sent to the concerned areas, Fishery Officials said.
Anisur Rahman Talukder, Barisal Divisional Director, Department of Fisheries, said the river sanctuary area of Barisal, Bhola Patuakhali in Barisal Division is now a Jatka moving area. The ban was imposed to give it a chance to grow.
Israil Pandit, president of the Barisal District Small Fishermen’s Association, said only 40 kg of rice was insufficient at the time of the two month-long ban and so it should be increased to 150 kg.
