Bhola:Fishermen in the coastal districts have reported promising hilsa catches as fishing activities resumed following the conclusion of a 22-day government-imposed ban aimed at protecting mother hilsa during the breeding season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Shamraj Fish Landing Centre in Charfashion, the largest fishing port in coastal Bhola, has regained its usual vibrancy. Large quantities of hilsa have been arriving at wholesale markets after night-long fishing expeditions. The port, which had been largely inactive during the ban, is now bustling with activity as fishermen and traders engage in buying and selling hilsa.
Local fishermen, including Sahabuddin Majhi, Rakibul Islam, Main Uddin Majhi, and Bashir Majhi, expressed satisfaction with their catches, though many fish still contained eggs. Mohammad Tarek Aziz Patwary, president of the Shamraj Fish Landing Centre Wholesalers' Association, noted that while initial catches were encouraging, a substantial number of hilsa still had eggs, and suggested that the ban might have been more effective if it had started in mid-October.
Kamrul Hasan, Director of the Department of Fisheries in Barishal Division, reported that in the division's six coastal districts, there are 425,009 registered fishermen, with an additional estimated 100,000 unregistered fishermen. Consequently, nearly 500,000 fishermen returned to fishing post-ban, anticipating a successful season with potential earnings surpassing those of previous years.
Bhola District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Delwar Hossain highlighted the importance of the ban in allowing mother hilsa to lay eggs safely, thus contributing to increased hilsa production. Last year, Bhola produced 179,300 metric tonnes of hilsa, and this figure is expected to rise. During the ban, the fisheries department, in cooperation with law enforcement, conducted 297 anti-fishing operations, leading to the imprisonment of 80 people and fines totaling Tk 450,000. Authorities seized 2.63 metric tonnes of hilsa and 99.2 million meters of fishing nets.
In coastal Lakshmipur district, around 54,000 fishermen have resumed fishing in the Meghna River. Additionally, the rivers surrounding Dhalchar and Manpura in Bhola, Moulavir Char in Noakhali, Kalir Char near Sandwip, and the estuarine areas of Chandpur are recognized as major hilsa breeding grounds in the country.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock distributed 16,192.25 tonnes of rice to fishermen during the 22-day ban under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program, benefiting 647,690 fishing families in 38 districts with 25 kilograms of rice each.
In a related development, a nationwide ban on catching jatka, or juvenile hilsa up to 25 centimeters, will begin on November 1 and continue until June 30, 2027. This restriction will not apply to larger hilsa or other fish. The Department of Fisheries initiated a program to protect jatka in 2003-04, which led to increased hilsa production. Building on this, an 11-day ban was introduced in 2008 to protect mother hilsa during the full moon of Ashwin, later extended to 22 days in 2011 to cover both lunar phases and enhance protection during the breeding season.