2-Month Ban on Hilsa Catching to End Saturday Midnight

Fishermen have taken preparation to resume fishing as two-month long ban on catching, selling, transportation and hoarding of delicious hilsa fish will end Saturday midnight, reports UNB. 

Fishermen in different districts including Chandpur are preparing their fishing nets and trawlers to start catching hilsa in the rivers after 12 am.

Netting of hilsa was restricted in five sanctuaries across the country during this period.

A festive mood is prevailing in the fishermen para as around 52,000 fishermen will  resume fishing from the midnight.

Like previous years, the ban was imposed on a70-kilometer long area from Matlab Uttar Shatnol to Haimchar Charbhairabi area in Chandpur and 44,035 fishermen got government aid.               

During a reality check at Ananda Bazar, Harina, Bahria, Laxmipur in Sadar upazila on Saturday, the UNB correspondent found fishermen are taking preparation to go for fishing and already they have repaired their fishing boats.

Imam Hossain Bepari, 62, a fishermen, said the movement of hilsa has declined due to hidden chars in the river.

Golam Mehedi Hasan, an officer of fisheries department, said this year, the production of hilsa may increase this year.

Earlier, a two-month government ban on hilsa catching, selling, hoarding and transporting began on March 1, with a view to boosting its production.

The ban covers hilsa sanctuaries in six districts -- Barishal, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali .

The sanctuaries are 100km in the Meghna River from Chandpur’s Shatnol to Laxmipur’s Char Alexander, 90km in Shahbazpur Channel in Bhola, 100km in Tentulia River in Bhola, 20km in Naria and Bhederganj upazilas in Chandpur district and 82km in Hizla, Mehendiganj and Barishal Sadar upazilas, Gazaria and the Meghna river.

Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country's fish production as the single fish species.