Dhaka:Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid announced in parliament that the government has adopted a strict stance against illegal fishing nets along the coastlines. This move comes as the use of these nets, particularly the nylon multifilament ones known as 'current jal,' has been identified as a major factor in reducing fish production by an estimated 30 to 40 percent in coastal waters.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the issue was brought to light during a question-answer session at the Jatiya Sangsad, where independent lawmaker Mohammad Salman Omar of Mymensingh asked about the impact of illegal fishing practices. The minister highlighted that 'bottom trawling' conducted by some fishermen is destroying breeding grounds and posing a threat to marine biodiversity, food security, and the country's blue economy.
Minister Rashid elaborated on measures being taken to combat these challenges, including the implementation of legal steps to stop bottom trawling. The Department of Fisheries (DoF) has initiated several strategies to protect fish species and enhance yields, such as developing fish sanctuaries and nurseries in wetlands, releasing fish fries, and enforcing a 30-day fishing ban annually in seven districts.
The government has also formulated the Protection and Conservation of Fish (Amendment) Act, 2026, and established 827 fish sanctuaries nationwide. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, nearly 244 tonnes of fish fries were released into open water bodies, and 978 beal nurseries were developed.
Additionally, plans are underway to protect endangered animals and birds at the Bangladesh National Zoo in Mirpur and Rangpur Zoo, with the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute playing a crucial role in conservation efforts. The IUCN Red List assessment for Bangladesh lists 30 freshwater fish species as Endangered, 9 as Critically Endangered, and 25 as Vulnerable out of 253 assessed native freshwater fish species.