Dhaka:An eight-month ban on the harvesting, transportation, storage, marketing, and sale of juvenile hilsa, known locally as Jatka, has officially commenced today. This initiative aims to enhance the production of hilsa, Bangladesh's national fish, ensure the sustainable conservation of aquatic biodiversity, and fulfill national protein demands.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this legal directive took effect across the country on 1 November and will remain in force until 30 June 2027. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a press release confirming the details of the ban. The directive follows the success of the 22-day 'Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2026', which led to the birth of billions of new hilsa fry in the rivers.
Research from the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) indicates that these juvenile fish, currently measuring 3 to 5 centimeters, are growing at a rate of 3 to 3.5 centimeters per month. If uninterrupted, they will mature into commercially viable hilsa by May-June next year, reaching lengths of 25 to 30 centimeters and weights of around 400 grams.
The Protection and Conservation of Fish Act has made it a punishable offense to catch, transport, store, market, or trade hilsa smaller than 25 centimeters during this period. A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted to prevent the use of banned fishing nets, with strict penalties including imprisonment and fines of up to Taka 500,000.
Mobile courts led by executive magistrates, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and local administrations, will ensure compliance. A joint task force, including the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, has been formed to enforce the law at the field level. The Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard are conducting round-the-clock patrols, and the River Police will maintain surveillance across six river sanctuaries.
To support fishermen during the ban, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has secured a special initiative providing 40 kilograms of Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice monthly to registered fishermen families. This assistance covers hundreds of thousands of families in 96 upazilas across 20 major hilsa-prone districts.
Fisheries scientists assert that this combined scientific and legal effort helps maintain Bangladesh's leading position in global hilsa production. The protection laws ensure the growth and maturity of hilsa, complementing the autumn protection campaign that ensures their birth.