The government will enforce a combined special drive by local administrations and law enforcers from today (Monday) against illegal use of fishing nets as an estimated 50,000 such harmful nets are widely being used in the coastal belt posing a serious threat to fisheries resources.
At the primary stage, a 15-day drive will be conducted covering all the islands, river-beds and estuaries of three costal districts-Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna as a large number of fishermen are allegedly using these nets for fishing in the Bay of Bengal and adjacent coastal regions, which is ultimately creating a threat to overall existence of the fisheries resource of the country. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haque yesterday said this as the chief guest while addressing a press conference at the Department of Fisheries (DoF) here.
The minister said different law enforcement agencies, including Bangladesh Navy, coast guard, marine police, RAB, Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB), police, and the local administrations will carry out the drive until January 18.”
With director general of the DoF Dr Syed Arif Azad in the chair, the meeting also was addressed, among others, by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary M Maksudul Hasan Khan as the special guest. For overall supervision of the programme, the government has formed a committee with Additional Secretary (fisheries) M Anisur Rahman as its convenor.
The government on 7 April 2013 imposed restrictions on use of different harmful and illegal fishing nets, but an estimated 50,000 harmful nets are being used illegally in the coastal zones, said the minister at the press briefing. As per official statistics, the Bay of Bengal and its adjoining river estuaries are habitats of nearly 475 different species of big and small fish.
