Participants at ‘ Jatka (Hilsa fry) Preservation Week’ programmes on Wednesday welcoming the steps and campaign for saving Jatka said this sector is earning huge foreign exchanges side by side creating huge employment opportunities .
So it should be extended special attention for making socio-economic development through more budget allocations, they told.
The inaugural ceremony of ID card distribution among 3 lakh fishermen in Barisal division including 42 thousands of Barisal district and a discussion were arranged by the directorate of fishing and ministry of fishery and livestock at Banabandhu Udyan in Barisal. Later a fishing boat race from Dapdapia to Hamza Ghat was held on the Kirtankhola River.
Dr. Shelina Afroza, secretary of fisheries and livestock ministry presided over the programme attended by Mohammad Sayedul Haque, Fisheries and Livestock Minister as chief guest.
The Fisheries and livestock minister assured that rehabilitations of the professional fishermen affected by this campaign would be given top priority by issuing identity cards for fishermen.
Minister also said that regular survey and extending socio-economic assistances would be provided to improve the conditions of the fishermen, assurances of their social and professional safety and security.
He called the fishermen and people to stop netting, marketing and buying of Jakta for saving the resource of national wealth.
Among others Narayan Chandra Chanda, state minister for fishery and livestock, Syed Arif Azad, director general fishery directorate, Shawkat Hossain Hiron, Talukdar Md. Yunus, AL lawmakers, Syed Arif Azad, director of the fisheries department, Shohidul Alam, deputy commissioner Barisal, Anwar Hossain Shikdar, central secretary, Bangladesh Khudra Matshwajibi Samity, Afzalul Karim, AL leader , addressed the program.
Fishery officials explaining the restrictions for boosting Hilsa resources said Hilsa fries (Jatka) develop 2-2.5 centimeters in length per month and started move towards sea after reaching 15-17 centimeters in length and starts return journey to sweet water rivers after becomes 25-28 centimeters in length with 300-450 grams weights for laying eggs.
So if only10-20 percent of Jatka could be saved from catching, then hilsa resources around 2 lakh tons worth hundreds cores of taka could be increased every year, said fishing directorate officials.
The participant fishermen opined that drive against netting Jatka could not be successful without representation of grass root level fishermen in implementation of the government policy and without helping the marginal fishermen by giving subsidy, alternative job facilities during ban of fishing on open water sources.
The marginal fishermen also called for prevention against climate change and environment pollution, encroachments affecting open surface water fishing resources and assurance of safety and security of the fishermen in fishing zones.
