Mahbub Pial, Faridpur

The indiscriminate use of the banned 'China Doari' fishing trap is spreading at an alarming rate across rivers, canals, beels, and water bodies throughout Faridpur district, severely threatening local aquatic biodiversity and native fish breeding cycles. With the onset of the monsoon season, these illegal traps have proliferated across nearly all upazilas, including Sadar, Saltha, Nagarkanda, Boalmari, Sadarpur, Charbhadrasan, Bhanga, and Alfadanga.

Local residents allege that although these traps are openly installed to catch fish of all sizes indiscriminately, visible enforcement actions by the Department of Fisheries remain largely absent, drawing sharp criticism from community members and environmental activists.

Field inspections reveal that China Doari traps—constructed of bamboo, netting, and plastic mesh—have been set up across water currents in various local water bodies. Positioned to intercept the flow of water, these traps capture everything from small fry to egg-bearing mother fish, severely disrupting natural reproduction.

Hridoy Molla, a resident of Faridpur Sadar upazila, stated, "We have not seen the fisheries department conduct any drives against China Doari this year. Countless traps have been set up in rivers and canals. If these are not removed, finding native fish will become difficult within a few years."

Rahim Sheikh of Saltha upazila remarked, "Previously, casting nets in canals and beels during the monsoon yielded various species of fish. Now, the fish count has plummeted because of China Doari. The administration needs to be much stricter."

Abdul Jalil from Nagarkanda observed, "Often, these traps are set up openly. Even when locals report them, prompt action is not taken. Regular drives would deter anyone from daring to use these illegal traps."

Haidar Matubbar of Boalmari upazila noted, "China Doari catches not just large fish, but even tiny fry. This raises fears that future fish production will plummet catastrophically."

Qaiser Khan of Bhanga upazila added, "The government takes various initiatives every year to increase fish production. However, unless banned traps like China Doari are halted, the full benefits of those initiatives cannot be realized."

Keramat Ali from Alfadanga upazila stressed, "Protecting fisheries requires more than just occasional drives; exemplary punishment must be meted out to those who repeatedly use these traps."

Abdus Sabur Kajol, a cultural and environmental activist in Charbhadrasan upazila, described China Doari as a "silent disaster" for Faridpur’s water bodies. "This illegal trap catches fish of all sizes, including fish spawn and egg-bearing mother fish, severely undermining natural breeding.

Fisheries experts explain that China Doari is a stationary trap placed directly across water currents, capturing mature fish alongside juvenile fish and spawning females, thereby crippling natural reproduction cycles. The use of such traps has long been banned across Bangladesh.

According to regulations, utilizing banned nets and traps is a punishable offense under fisheries conservation laws, carrying penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, or both. Yet, many continue to employ these illegal methods in pursuit of larger, easier catches.

Prabir Kanti Bala, General Secretary of Faridpur Nagorik Mancha, said, "China Doari cannot be eradicated solely through intermittent raids. The primary step must be identifying the sources of manufacture and supply to shut down production and marketing. Otherwise, sporadic operations seizing a few traps offer no permanent fix. Over the past five years, the use of these traps has surged dangerously.

Hasanuzzaman, a journalist and member of the Faridpur Conscious Citizens Committee (Sujan), asserted, "Conducting occasional drives will not permanently solve the crisis. Coordinated efforts involving local representatives, law enforcement agencies, fisheries associations, the Department of Environment, and ordinary citizens are essential..

In response to these concerns, Faridpur District Fisheries Officer Nasrin Jahan stated "We are regularly conducting operations against China Doari and removing illegal traps from various locations. These drives will be further intensified in the future, and anyone utilizing banned traps will face legal action.