A discussion meeting on the voluntary removal of illegal trawling equipment and the protection of marine fisheries resources was held in Mohipur, Patuakhali Saturday afternoon at the BFDC Fish Landing Center in Mohipur, jointly organized by the Department of Fisheries and the Hilsa Resource Development and Management Project.
The Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Special guests included Dr. Abu Nayeem Muhammad Abduch Sabur, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Captain Imam Hasan Azad, Zonal Commander of the Coast Guard South Zone. Senior officials from the fisheries department were also present.
Speakers said that over the past 10 years, illegal trawling using small-mesh nets has destroyed marine fish fry and larvae, severely damaging biodiversity. As a result, the production of hilsa and other fish species has declined significantly.
They noted that due to the threat to fisheries resources, joint operations by the Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries have prompted fishermen to voluntarily remove illegal equipment from trawlers. They expressed hope that this initiative will play a vital role in conserving marine fisheries resources in the future.
