ZCZC
BSS-47
HILSA-CATCH-BAN
Ban on hilsa catching begins tonight
DHAKA, Oct 13, 2020 (BSS) – The government has imposed a ban on hilsa catching, selling, transporting and hoarding for the next 22 days with effective from tonight to protect mother hilsa for ensuring safe breeding.
The restriction will remain effective till November 4.
“Any attempts of catching hilsa will be prevented at any cost during the ban period,” said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim at a press briefing on implementing the ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2020,” at his ministry office yesterday.
“As the breeding period of hilsa approaches, none will be allowed to catch mother hilsa during the ban on fishing,” he said.
Apart from patrols of the river police and the Coast Guard, the sea and rivers will be monitored using digital means so that no boat or ship can catch hilsa, the minister said, adding that if any machine-driven fishing vessel comes from abroad, it will be seized following legal procedure.
Hilsa production was 2.98 tonnes in fiscal 2008-2009, which it stood at 5.17 tonnes increasing by 73 percent during the fiscal year 2018-19 because of the ban on catching mother Hilsa in breeding seasons.
BSS/PR/TAN/RY/20:45hrs