Bangladesh
Hilsa A special integrated campaign is starting from midnight to protect mother hilsa
Dhaka, October 4, 2021: The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is launching a special campaign to protect mother hilsa from midnight on Sunday in the main breeding season this year. The special operation will be conducted in 36 districts of the country till October 25.
An exchange of views was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Secretariat on Sunday under the chairmanship of Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud.
It was said at the meeting that district and upazila administration, local fisheries department, Bangladesh Police, RAB, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force will jointly conduct the operation.
During the implementation of the campaign in 20 districts namely Dhaka, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalokati, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Feni, Noakhali, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, rivers and rivers.
All types of fishing including hilsa will be stopped in estuaries and seas. The other 16 districts namely Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Tangail, Gazipur, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Natore, Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Brahmanbaria, Khulna, Kushtia and Narail districts will have hilsa fish in their rivers.
At the meeting, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud said that with the joint efforts, fish production is increasing in the country and it is possible to take hilsa fish to unique heights.
Based on the opinion of fisheries scientists and experts, considering the maximum breeding time of hilsa, the time for banning hilsa harvesting has been fixed this year.
He added that 11,118.06 metric tonnes of VGF rice has been allotted to 5,55,944 fishing families this year while hilsa harvesting has been stopped.
The Coast Guard and Navy will take measures to prevent the fishermen of the neighboring countries from fishing illegally while stopping the catch of hilsa. Extensive activities have been undertaken this year to make the mother hilsa conservation campaign a success.
In accordance with the Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, enacted under the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950, a total of 22 days from 4 to 25 October, Hilsa fish will be harvested, transported, stored, marketed, bought and sold across the country.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a notification on September 28 banning the exchange.
During these 22 days, procurement, transportation, storage, marketing, sale and exchange of hilsa is a punishable offense.
Violators of this law will be punished with a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 2 years rigorous imprisonment or a fine of up to five thousand rupees or both.
