Despite a government ban, illicit hilsa catching is continuing unabated along a 42-kilometre stretch of the Padma River in Rajbari, endangering the breeding process of the national fish of Bangladesh.
Local sources reported that a group of unscrupulous fishermen is flagrantly disregarding the 22-day ban, catching mother hilsa and selling them openly on riverbanks during daylight hours.
The government ban, enforced from October 13, aims to protect hilsa during its peak breeding period. The restrictions are set to remain in place until November 3.
Witnesses from areas like Urakanda and Borot Antarmor in Sadar upazila have described the scenes of fishermen preparing to venture out on the river in defiance of the law.
At Antarmor, numerous fishing boats were seen on the river, with teams of three to five fishermen catching anywhere from 10 to 30 kilograms of hilsa per outing.
Both men and women were seen gathering on the riverbanks to purchase hilsa directly from the fishermen, underscoring the pervasiveness of the illegal trade. Fishermen revealed that hilsa were being sold for between Tk 350 and Tk 400 per kilogram for fish weighing 200 to 400 grams.
Larger fish, weighing between 700 to 800 grams, fetched between Tk 800 and Tk 900, while those nearing one kilogram sold for up to Tk 1,200.
Retailers, benefiting from a discount of 100 grams per kilogram, were making a profit of Tk 50 to Tk 100 by reselling the fish within nearby villages, even offering home delivery.
This illegal activity continues despite the presence of a task force formed to monitor the situation. Fishermen are reportedly tracking the task force’s movements, only venturing out to fish after the authorities leave the area, allowing them to evade detection.
Challenges for Enforcement
Local fisheries officials have acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing the ban due to a lack of manpower and financial resources.
Mostafa Al Rajib, a fisheries officer in Sadar upazila, noted that his team conducts three drives per day but is limited by the scarcity of personnel and equipment.
Besides, the team must rely on magistrates to conduct enforcement operations, further hindering their ability to curb the illegal activity.
“We need magistracy power and sufficient financial support to conduct regular drives. With these, we could prevent the ongoing mother hilsa catching more effectively,” Al Rajib stated.
Emran Mahmud Tuhin, in charge of the Daulatdia River Police Outpost, mentioned that the police are assisting the fisheries department in its efforts to protect the hilsa.
When asked about the ongoing hilsa fishing, he said the authorities were unaware of the scale of the illegal operations but assured that legal action would be taken if verified.
The illegal catching of hilsa not only threatens the fish population but also undermines the government’s conservation efforts. Immediate action is needed to enforce the ban and safeguard the future of the hilsa fishery.
Tags: Hilsa catching, Rajbari Hilsa, Hilsa ban
