Fry netting threatens fish stock
Rampant catching of shrimp fry with banned mosquito nets in the rivers, especially in the coastal areas of Hatiya, Subarnachar and Companyganj upazilas under the district poses threat to local fish species.
Fry and eggs of different local fish like hilsa, koral, boal, baila and pangash and various environment-friendly insects that ate caught in the closely knitted nets are left on the river bank and get destroyed, locals said, expressing fear that this may lead to scarcity of fish in the rivers in near future.
Collection of shrimp and prawn fry continues from February to June when other fish including hilsa are not available in the rivers. Those engaged in the act set mosquito nets at close distances and lift those every three or four hours.
Many species of fish have already become extinct.
Catching a shrimp fry costs about 212 other fish fry and 1001 fish food particles, said sources of the District Department of Fisheries.
To stop destruction of fish resources the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a circular on September 21 in 2000, putting a ban on catching fry of shrimp and other fish from the natural sources.
Violating the ban, a section of dishonest people in coastal areas engage poor fishermen and children from hard-pressed families to collect shrimp and prawn fry, especially from February to June.
The collectors sell 100 pieces of fry at Tk 90 to Tk 100 in the local wholesalers who sell it to traders in Khulna, Jessore, Satkhira and other areas.
"During this period we get very small quantities of fish in the rivers. After paying dues to the owners of nets and other fishing equipment we are left with almost no money. We gave to catch shrimp and prawn fry for survival with the family," said fisherman Hiralal in Hatiya upazila.
"I join others to collect and prawn fry for Tk 250 to Tk 350 a day as my father, a brick kiln worker, finds it very hard to meet the needs of our seven-member family," said Dulal, a teenager in Subarnachar upazila.
If the government provides cash assistance to the fishermen during the lean season they could be prevented from collecting shrimp and prawn fry, locals say.
District Fisheries Officer Bilquis Tahmina said, "I have held several view exchange meetings with the local fishermen who collect fry illegally in the coastal area. I will take emergency steps in this regard soon."
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