Even fingerlings not spared

Over 1,000 fishing nets have been set up on 30km stretch of the Harinbaria canal in Taltali upazila of Barguna, posing threat to different  fish species in the area.

The fishermen regularly catch fish with the nets, locally called bhason jaal, and huge quantities of fingerlings get destroyed in the process, which is very alarming for the fish stock in the area, locals said.

The fishermen have placed their nets on the canal that flows through two unions in the upazila, connecting the Nilganj river under Kalapara upazila in the south and Payra river in the north.

Ishaq Hawlader of Harinbaria village said several lakh people depend on the water of the canal for agricultural and household purposes, adding that they also depend on it for livelihood.

Ishaq said he catches fish near Harinbaria Bridge with bhason jaal round the year. “I earn Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 a day in the peak season, especially between May and November,” he said.

Abdur Rahim Sikder said fishing in the canal is his main profession, adding that he catches fish round the year and earns Tk 300 to Tk 1,000 daily.

Abdul Gaffar Mallik said he also fishes in the canal with bhason jaal round the year as it is his main source of income.

Taltali Upazila Fisheries Officer Shamim Reza said they seized 85 nets from the canal during drives in 2017 to discourage the people who are engaged in netting fish with bhason jaal, adding that the fishermen place their nets again after the drive.

“We tell them to protect fish fry, but in vain,” Shamim said.