Cox’s Bazar Correspondent :
By using a poisonous chemical in the upstream course of the Matamuhuri River under Chakoria upazila of the district, a section of unscrupulous people continue to catch different species of fish, putting biodiversity in jeopardy.
Every year in dry season, a group of miscreants becomes involved in such heinous act thanks to the negligence of the authority concerned.
Following use of the chemical, different species of small and big fish almost are attracted and come up near the river bank.
Around 5-kilometre long area of the river is poisoned at Telirkum area on last Saturday and Sunday. As a result, a huge number of fishes are dying indiscriminately.
Sources said, with the recession of water in the river, a section greedy of fishermen start netting fishes in different parts of the river using toxic liquid of a hilly plant. At first they sprinkle the chemical into the river water, consequently, a mass of fishes come upper level of water from deep. After that, the fishermen collected the fished very hurriedly and sell in markets.
While visiting the river area, this correspondent found many species of dead fish were floating on the water. Most of them were shrimp fries. Hundreds of local people including women and children were seen catching the half-dead or dead fishes curiously.
Residents living on the riverbanks said they see different small fishes and shrimp fries floating on the river on last Sunday morning while they went for bathing in the river. As the news spread, many people crowded the river banks and started catching those fishes.
The dishonest fishermen catch only big fishes using their nets, but the small fishes die due to the effect of poison.
Ichhak, Jasim and Zahur Alam who came at the river bank for catching almost-dead fish, said they get the opportunity of catching fish 8-10 times every year in the dry season.
In this regard, Dr Safiur Rahman said anyone who eats such poisonous fish, may face serious health hazard.
When contacted, Upazila Fisheries Officer Zia Uddin said different species of small and big fish are dying due to indiscriminate use of poison. Moreover, natural food of fish and fish breeding are being damaged that put biodiversity under serious threat, he added.
It is punishable offence to catch fish from open water body using poison. So they will take stern action against the fishermen involved in such crime, he also said.
If they get proper support from local people, they will be able to detect the offenders and bring them under the punishment, he mentioned.
