Chattogram Bureau :
Even though the month of Baishakh has passed, there is concern that the only natural fish breeding ground in the country, Halda river, is not producing mother fish eggs. Already a season is gone. The egg collectors waited with all kinds of preparations but the fish did not lay eggs. Although a record amount of eggs was collected last year, many people are trying to match the various equations behind not releasing fish eggs in one year. Some have commented that the construction of the switch gate and the rubber dam upstream of Halda is gradually destroying Halda.
However, Halda experts say that season is no longer needed. When it thunderstom, rains, the fish will lay eggs. A lot of fish are coming and going in the Halda river and waiting for the rain, the concerned said.
According to the District Fisheries Department, 25,536 kg of eggs were collected from the Halda river last year. Citing information stored in the department, officials said 617 egg collectors collected the eggs. Which was the highest in the last 14 years. Except for May 22 last year, crores of fry have been produced and sold by collecting those eggs. He also mentioned that the amount of egg extraction has increased as a result of various activities conducted across the Halda river. He said last year saw the benefits of stopping mother fishing, illegal navigation and sand extraction. This time too, collectors are waiting on the banks of Halda in the hope of getting a record amount of eggs. But even though the month of Baishakh is completely gone, there is concern among them that the fish do not lay eggs. “We are waiting,” Mohammad Jamshedul Alam, an egg collector, told media persons yesterday. Last 10 to 14 May was a specific season(joe) . We were quite optimistic. We had a hope that we would be able to collect more eggs this time than last year. But the fish did not lay eggs. We are disappointed. He also said that he has already invested huge amount of money.
He said there is a Joe from May 24 to 26. Hopefully the fish will lay eggs in that zoo. Mohammad Jamshed said hundreds of egg-collecting boats are waiting at various points including Halda river’s Garduara, Kantar Ali Chowdhury Ghat, Sattar Ghat, Ankuri Ghona, Madunaghat, Napiter Ghona and Madarsha.
Halda researcher Professor of Zoology at the University of Chittagong. Manjurul Kibria said a Joe has been missed, but nothing to worry about. The time for laying eggs has not passed. He said a record amount of eggs were collected last year. He expressed hope that a good amount of eggs will be collected again. He said the fish could not lay eggs due to lack of rain and thunderstorm.
