HM Rasel, Amtali (Barguna)

The only government-managed fish hatchery at Amtali in Barguna has been closed for 20 years due to lack of renovation. As a result, fish nursery owners here are collecting caterpillars from far and wide and supplying them to fish farmers. Due to this, the price of fish fry is high, so the farmers are not able to make profit.

According to the sources of the Fisheries Department, in 1991, a tin shed hatchery, overhead tank for water supply and 4 ponds for mother fish storage were dug on the east side of the Upazila Magistrate Court at a cost of 9 lakh 50 fifty thousand under government management in Amtali Upazila. After the completion of the work, the fisheries department started the production of caterpillars by collecting brot fish. Due to the good quality of the larvae here, the demand for it increased greatly from the farmers because of the quality of the larvae collected from the improved breed of mother fish.

The fisheries department was earning lakhs of rupees every year by supplying about 80 to 90 lakh roe and cuttlefish to fish hatchery farmers and fish nursery owners. Besides, the number of fishermen in this region was increasing day by day. After that suddenly in 2004, when the electric pump machine for drawing water from the overhead tank became useless, the caterpillar production also stopped.

On inspection, it was found that the caterpillar production shed is lying empty. A pile of sand in the chowder to collect molecules. Many of the pipes in the water supply line were corroded. The same is the case with the electric pump for lifting water in the overhead tank. Overhead tank cracked. Many places have collapsed. The upazila administration has made a field by filling 2 of the 4 ponds excavated for mother fish conservation.

Due to the closure of hatcheries for the production of caterpillars, the owners of fish nurseries and farmers here have become disinterested in fish farming. Many of them were forced to collect caterpillars from different parts of the country including Khulna, Bagerhat, Barisal, Mokamia, Jessore, Dapadapia in the south-western region and meet the needs of the fishermen of the upazila. Burns in it.

As there is adulteration, the cost of transportation also increases a lot. Every year there is a demand of about four to five crore fish fry in Amtali upazila. Amtali Fisheries Department said that this demand can be met from here if the hatchery for caterpillar production is started.

Amtali Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Tanmoy Kumar Das said that the higher authorities will be informed for the reform. If the allocation is available, the hatchery will be operational.

Amtali UNO Ashraful Alam said that a decision will be taken to renovate the fish hatchery after discussion in the Upazila Parishad meeting.