22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins on .Saturday midnight
Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)
A 22-day ban on all types of fishing, including Hilsa, in the sea and rivers will begin from midnight of Saturday (October 4). During this period, a complete ban has been declared on the purchase and sale of fish, including harvesting, transportation, storage and marketing. If this ban is not followed, action will be taken according to the law, said the Fisheries Department sources.
Mics have been set up along the coast to raise awareness about the blockade. Therefore, most of the fishing trawlers stationed in the Bay of Bengal have started returning to the Shibbaria River at the Mahipur and Alipur fisheries ports in Patuakhali since Friday morning.
Although the fishermen were quite excited after catching the coveted fish in their nets for the past few days, the blockade has dampened their enthusiasm. They have demanded that the government increase the incentives provided and increase the administration's patrols in the sea to stop the aggression of fishermen from neighboring countries.
Fisherman Ali Majhi (45) said, "The amount of rice the government gives us is less. It should be increased. Rice is not distributed properly among the fishermen, and even when it is distributed, it is not distributed at the right time."
Trawler fisherman Md. Jamal said, "When fishing is banned in our country, the neighboring country India enters our sea area and takes away the fish. Even if one or two are caught, the husbands lovingly return them to India. And many fishermen from our country have been in Indian jails for years. The patrols of our country's navy and coast guard in the sea should be increased."
Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said, "All types of fishing in the sea are completely prohibited for 22 days from midnight today (October 4) to October 26. The Navy and Coast Guard are further increasing patrols in the sea. This year, the Air Force will patrol the sea using drones."
Apu Saha further said, "A proposal has been made to the government to increase incentives for fishermen. Fishermen will be given incentives at the right time. As fishermen comply with this ban, the fish population in the sea has increased and big fish are also being found on the shore."
