Natural spawning of fish in River Halda looks threatened with many fish species becoming extinct. Currently, 26 out of 76 species of fish are not available in this natural fish breeding ground because of water pollution caused by indiscriminate dumping of industrial and solid waste into the river, salinity, sand extraction and dikes built on riverbanks. Researchers have found that the destruction of fish habitats has led to a significant fall in fish fry production in recent years.
Experts said, one of the main reasons for the loss of fish species is unplanned sluice gates. The construction of water structures also reduced water flow resulting in the loss of essential natural feed sources for fishes. From Sattarghat to Madunaghat of the river, the habitat for brood fishes, there is a severe shortage of feed sources. The maturation of fish gonads also requires quality water and plenty of feed during the breeding season. Not only are fishes vanishing from the Halda, the river is becoming inhospitable for other aquatic species. The Halda is also a habitat of the Gangetic dolphin, which is decreasing in population rapidly. Once there were 167 dolphins in Halda but now the number is 126. In the last three years since September 2017, 29 dead dolphins have been spotted in the river.
Following a writ petition, the High Court on 19 May 2020 directed the Chattogram district administration to form a special committee comprising local administration and public representatives to protect the biodiversity of the Halda river, mother carp fishes, and dolphins. To save the river’s fishery, the government has declared a 40km stretch of the Halda as a sanctuary. However, even after this initiative, the killing of mother fishes and illegal extraction of sand from the Halda have not stopped.
About 2,000 fishermen who live along the river have become unemployed because of the decline of its fish resources. Many have been forced to change their ancestral profession. Some of them now work as rickshaw-pullers, while some others as day laborers. The government must stop people from polluting the river and prevent saline water intrusion. Loss of this natural fish spawning river will be irreplaceable.
