Embargo on hilsha fishing for 22-day from Oct 7

Hilsha catching will remain banded for 22 days across the country from October 7 with a view to ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period.

“Nationwide transportation, buying-selling, storing and exchanging of hilsha will also remain suspended during this major breeding season till October 28”, said an official release here today.

The decision came following a National Task Force Committee on Hilsha Resource Development meeting held at the Department of Fisheries (DoF) conference room here today (Thursday) with Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim in the chair.

Campaigns for preservation of the mother hilshas also will be conducted during the period. The government will distribute food aid under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme to the fishermen who will abstain from fishing during this time, said the release.

Talking about the restrictions, the fisheries and livestock minister said, “The government will take strict actions against those involves in destruction of the resources. The drive will be continued during day and night.”

About the benefit of the embargo, the minister said such a huge quantity of hilsha was not produced in past, adding that now the fish is available everywhere in the country. “People can easily get the fish and the hilsha is also being exported,” he added.