Hilsa fishing banned in Meghna River for 2 months
A two-month ban on catching 'jatka' (hilsa fry less than 9 inches or 23 centimetres in length) from 1 March to 30 April will begin in five hilsa sanctuaries across the country on Tuesday midnight.
To increase the production of hilsa, the government has imposed the ban in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary under Chandpur, Shariatpur, Laxmipur, Barishal and Bhola districts, said Golam Mehedi, Chandpur district fisheries officer.
Seventy kilometers sanctuary of Meghna in Sadar, Haimchar, Matlab North and Matlab South upazilas of the district is also under the restriction.
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Besides, the government will provide 40 kgs of rice to 44,035 fishermen during the period, he said.
District taskforce committee has taken all necessary steps to stop netting jatka.
During the ban period, preserving, collecting, transporting, marketing and storing hilsa is illegal and a punishable offense.
"Various programs including miking, posters-leaflets distribution and awareness meetings will be carried out in the coastal areas to raise awareness among the fishermen. Also, ice factories in the coastal areas have been asked to keep closed during the ban period," Laxmipur District Fisheries Officer Aminul Islam said.
