Barisal Correspondent :
A two-month total ban on fishing in 392 kilometers areas of five major rivers in six districts of the southern region starts from yesterday ( 1st March ) imposed by Directorate of Fishing to facilitate safe breeding and spawning of Hilsa and other species of fish to increase national fish resources by saving fish fries.
However, fishermen sources said without any propagation and sufficient compensative subsidy it may not be successful.
The prohibition effecting from March 1 to April 30 introduced for preventing fishermen from catching fish fry, including jatka (hilsa fry), and aiming to give a boost to fish output for increasing hilsha fish, said divisional fishery officer Syed Azizul Haque.
According to the regular yearly plan, 392 kilometer areas on Ilisha, Meghna, Tentulia, Bishkhali and Padma rivers and branches of Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Laxmipur districts have been declared sanctuaries of fishes for this period since 2006.
The divisional fishery officer said the government has imposed total restriction against fishing in 100 kilometers from Shatnol to Char Alexander of Meghna, Padma Rivers, 90 kilometers from Madanpur to Char-Shababazpur of Meghna and Ilisha Rivers, 100 kilometers from Veduria to Char Rustom of Bishkhali and Tentulia Rivers, 20 km from Vedorgonj to Matlab of Meghna River and 82 kilometers from Kalapara to Charmanik of estuary areas.
Director of Barishal divisional fishery office said this year except asking help of law enforcing agencies and local administrations to execute two-month ban on all kinds of fishing, no other steps yet taken due to not allotment of fund.
Fishery officials said anyone found fishing during the period from March 1 to April 30 in the restricted river-areas will be subjected to punitive action – fine of Tk 5,000 to 10,000, jail and burn his fishing nets.
Wide propagations about the hard punishment against the violators of this ban by distributing leaflets among the fishermen, fish markets and fish merchants, were needed, he acknowledged.
However Dr. Bimal Chandra Das, Barishal district fishery officer (hilsa), said total 1. 74 lakhs enlisted fishermen out of over 3.52 lakhs fishermen including hilsa-catchers already receiving 40 kg rice per month from February as subsidy for the ban period which would be continued till May 2020.
Due to lack of fund no special grants, facilities and alternative employment opportunities could be provided for the affected and unemployed fishermen, the official added.
Israil Pandit, president Khudra Matsyajibi Samity of small fishermen, however, said without any propagation and compensative subsidy, government initiative of 60-day fishing ban may not be successful. We appeal to give us proper support during ban period.
A two-month total ban on fishing in 392 kilometers areas of five major rivers in six districts of the southern region starts from yesterday ( 1st March ) imposed by Directorate of Fishing to facilitate safe breeding and spawning of Hilsa and other species of fish to increase national fish resources by saving fish fries.
However, fishermen sources said without any propagation and sufficient compensative subsidy it may not be successful.
The prohibition effecting from March 1 to April 30 introduced for preventing fishermen from catching fish fry, including jatka (hilsa fry), and aiming to give a boost to fish output for increasing hilsha fish, said divisional fishery officer Syed Azizul Haque.
According to the regular yearly plan, 392 kilometer areas on Ilisha, Meghna, Tentulia, Bishkhali and Padma rivers and branches of Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Laxmipur districts have been declared sanctuaries of fishes for this period since 2006.
The divisional fishery officer said the government has imposed total restriction against fishing in 100 kilometers from Shatnol to Char Alexander of Meghna, Padma Rivers, 90 kilometers from Madanpur to Char-Shababazpur of Meghna and Ilisha Rivers, 100 kilometers from Veduria to Char Rustom of Bishkhali and Tentulia Rivers, 20 km from Vedorgonj to Matlab of Meghna River and 82 kilometers from Kalapara to Charmanik of estuary areas.
Director of Barishal divisional fishery office said this year except asking help of law enforcing agencies and local administrations to execute two-month ban on all kinds of fishing, no other steps yet taken due to not allotment of fund.
Fishery officials said anyone found fishing during the period from March 1 to April 30 in the restricted river-areas will be subjected to punitive action – fine of Tk 5,000 to 10,000, jail and burn his fishing nets.
Wide propagations about the hard punishment against the violators of this ban by distributing leaflets among the fishermen, fish markets and fish merchants, were needed, he acknowledged.
However Dr. Bimal Chandra Das, Barishal district fishery officer (hilsa), said total 1. 74 lakhs enlisted fishermen out of over 3.52 lakhs fishermen including hilsa-catchers already receiving 40 kg rice per month from February as subsidy for the ban period which would be continued till May 2020.
Due to lack of fund no special grants, facilities and alternative employment opportunities could be provided for the affected and unemployed fishermen, the official added.
Israil Pandit, president Khudra Matsyajibi Samity of small fishermen, however, said without any propagation and compensative subsidy, government initiative of 60-day fishing ban may not be successful. We appeal to give us proper support during ban period.
