Joint operation to save jatka continues

A joint operation is being carried out to save jatka (hilsa less than nine inches in length) and other fishes in coastal areas since January 10.

Mobile courts jailed nine fishers for different terms for catching fish with illegal nets in Barishal region from January 10 to 14.

In 129 joint drives, 118 mobile courts fined fishers Tk 18,000 and seized 420 nets, 18.77 lakh metres of current nets, 576 other illegal nets, 1,214 items used for fishing, 2.8 tonnes of jatka and 0.48 tonnes of other fishes from their possessions.

The operation is being conducted by the fisheries department, naval police, coastguards and police, according to the department.

Anisur Rahman Talukder, deputy director of Divisional Fisheries Office, Barishal, said they are acting in coastal areas  to save jatka. Protection of other fishes is also a part of the drive, he added.

The office's Deputy Assistant Director Abdul Mannan said behundi, current, mosquito, charghera and khota are different locally-made nets used for catching fish in large numbers. The government has banned all these nets to save the country's fish, he said.

Anisur Rahman said on January 10, six behundi nets, 3,000 metres of current nets and 5,000 metres of charghera nets were seized from different rivers in Rajapur, Jhalakati.

They urged the upazila administration to launch a campaign to discourage fishers from using illegal nets, he said.

"I hope production of hilsa and other fishes will increase in the future." The joint drive will continue till February 1, the official said.