Dhaka: A 22-day nationwide ban on catching hilsa will commence on October 8 to facilitate the safe breeding of the national fish during its peak breeding season. The decision was finalized during a meeting of the National Taskforce Committee on Hilsa Resource Development at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock's conference room.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting was chaired by Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid, as noted in a PID handout. The ban extends beyond fishing to include transportation, storage, marketing, buying, selling, and exchanging of hilsa. Additionally, a mother hilsa conservation campaign will be conducted, providing food assistance under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program for fishermen who refrain from fishing during this period.
The Fisheries and Livestock Minister emphasized that there will be no compromise in protecting mother hilsa to ensure sustainable production. He called for intensified monitoring and enforcement in key breeding areas such as Barishal, Chandpur, and Bhola, involving district administrations, river police, the Coast Guard, and the Department of Fisheries. Additional vessels and logistical support will be provided if necessary, and increased inspections at ice factories, fish landing stations, and markets will prevent the marketing of illegally caught fish.
The minister directed authorities to conduct strict operations to remove illegal fishing nets from breeding grounds, particularly at the Chandpur confluence. Under no circumstances should fishing or marketing of hilsa occur during the prohibited period, he stressed, expressing hope that coordinated efforts would boost hilsa production in the coming season.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku highlighted the need for research to identify the causes of declining hilsa production. He advocated for measures to curb the production and sale of illegal fishing nets and called on fishermen's representatives to educate fishermen against purchasing prohibited nets. He assured that the government is providing incentives to deter fishing during the ban and that monitoring will ensure assistance reaches genuine fishermen.
The state minister expressed concerns about the need to import fish due to declining local hilsa production, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach to address the issue. He announced plans to formulate an integrated action plan to protect hilsa as a national resource and geographical indication (GI) product, aiming to boost its production in the future.