Bangladesh
Sundarbans Fishing and tourist entry into the Sundarbans is closed for three months
Dhaka, May 29, 2022: The Forest Department has banned fishing in all rivers and canals of the Sundarbans from June 1 to August 31.
This is the three month fish breeding season. Apart from stopping all kinds of fishing, tourists have also been banned from entering the Sundarbans. Entry pass-permit is also closed.
It is learned that the forest department has stopped fishing in all the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans for two months from July 1 to August 31 every year to protect the fisheries.
This activity has been going on since 2019. This year it has been extended for another month. At the same time, the entry of all types of tourists has also been announced.
The water area of the 6,017 sq km Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans is 16,074.1 sq km. Which is 31.15 percent of the total area of Sundarbans.
The waters of the Sundarbans are called fishery reserves. There are 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimp, 14 species of crabs, 43 species of malaska and one species of lobster. During the three months of fish breeding season from June to August, fish are born from the eggs of most of the fish in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans.
Therefore, if fishing is stopped at this time, the fish will increase in the rivers and canals, as well as other animals, plants and all living things, it will play a positive role, said the forest department.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer, East Sundarbans, told the Bengali Tribune that fishing in all rivers and canals is closed from July 1 to August 31 every year as per the recommendations of the Integrated Resources Management Planning (IRMP) to protect fishery resources in the Sundarbans. This activity has been started since 2019. This time, in coordination with the Fisheries Department, the Forest Ministry has extended this time by one month from June 1 to August 31. During these three months, all rivers and canals in the Sundarbans have been closed for fishing and tourists have been banned from entering. All kinds of pass-permits to enter the Sundarbans have been closed.
