Staff Reporter:
The 22-day nationwide ban on catching, transporting, and selling Hilsa ended yesterday (Saturday) mid-night.
Fishermen across the country are ready to head back to rivers and the sea as the government’s conserva-tion period for safe Hilsa breeding comes to a close.
With the ban lifting at midnight, trawlers are expected to set sail early Sunday, marking the resumption of Hilsa fishing across the country’s coastal waters and major rivers.
The annual ban, which began on October 4 and continued till October 25 midnight, was imposed by the government to ensure safe spawning of Hilsa during the peak breeding season for boosting fish produc-tion in the country.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, along with law enforcement agencies, carried out extensive drives across coastal districts to ensure compliance with the restriction.
Officials from the Department of Fisheries said the embargo helped protect millions of mother Hilsa, contributing to smooth growing of the country’s most popular fish.
“Strict monitoring was maintained across all major Hilsa breeding zones, including Chandpur, Bhola, Barishal, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Laxmipur,” a senior fisheries officer told .
“We expect a significant boost in Hilsa production in the upcoming season as a result of the ban,” he said.
During the restriction period, around 65,000 enforcement drives were conducted and several hundred illegal fishing nets were seized and destroyed, officials said.
The government also distributed food assistance among registered fishermen families affected by the temporary suspension of fishing activities.
Hilsa recognized as the national fish of Bangladesh, contributes nearly 12 percent to the country’s total fish production and plays a vital role in the livelihoods of millions of coastal fishermen.
