Staff Reporter :
In a bid to protect mother fish during peak breeding season, the 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding, and transporting of hilsa across the country has begun from Tuesday midnight. The ban will continue till November 4.
If anyone violates the ban, one to two years jail or Tk 5,000 fine will be awarded.
Earlier on Sunday, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said that none will be allowed to catch mother hilsa during the ban on fishing as the breeding period of hilsa approaches. “Any attempts of catching hilsa will be prevented at any cost during the ban period,” he said.
Apart from patrols of the river police and the Coast Guard, the sea and rivers will be monitored using digital means so that no boat or ship can catch hilsa. If any machine-driven fishing vessel comes from abroad, it will be seized following legal procedure.
The government will provide adequate food assistance to fisherfolk who cannot collect or sell hilsa during the ban so that no one involved in this process faces food crisis, the minister said.
Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country’s fish production. It contributes to more than 12.09% of the country’s fish production. In 2017-18, Ilish production was 5.17 lakh MT, which had an estimated value of around Tk 20,680 crore. This year, the authorities concerned set a target to produce 5.5 lakh MT Hilsa.
Earlier, the two-month government ban on netting, selling, and transporting of hilsa began on March 1 and ended May 1.
