Hilsa production trebles in 10yrs

The national fish has grown in size and numbers in the highest in a decade in Patuakhali, as the government has taken steps specific to their breading season for eight months in a year.

According to data from the Patuakhali fisheries department, a total of 46.540 tonnes of hilsa was collected in fiscal 2018-19, rising from 14.2 tonnes in 2008-09.

Of all the fish collected last year, 17.040 tonnes were from the rivers, marking a fivefold hike from only 3.6 tonnes a decade ago, and the rest was from the sea, said Md Emdadullah, Patuakhali district fisheries officer (DFO).

“We are motivating the fishermen and fish traders to obey the ban periods, specific to the brood hilsa and jatka (hilsa less than 10 inches long), to contribute to the growing economy.”

According to rules, there is a 22-day fishing ban from October 7 to 28 every year to save the mother hilsa during its reproductive season.

Secondly, there is a two-month ban from March 1 to April 30 on the 100 kilometre hilsa sanctuary at the Tentulia river from Bhola’s Veduria area to Char Rustam under Patuakhali’s Rangabali upazila via Char Kazal and Char Biswash under Galachipa upazila, to allow growth of the fish.

Thirdly, there is an eight-month ban from November to June on jatka netting in the Bay of Bengal.

Lastly, there is a 65-day ban from May 20 to July 23 on hilsa fishing.

The fisheries department imposed the ban in accordance to section 19 of the Marine Fisheries Ordinance 1883 (amendment in 2015), though it is being implemented for the first time in the coastal areas from this year.

The hilsa management policy of Bangladesh has become a model and India and Myanmar are following it, he said.

Nazrul Islam, 45, a fisherman of Borobaishdia area under Rangabali, said, “We are happy that hilsa production is going up every year, as we are getting benefitted from it.”

Although fishermen face momentary difficulties during the ban periods, they are ultimately happy as the size and number rise, said Md Ansar Uddin Mollah, president of Kalapara Upazila Fish Traders Association.

Fish traders are also pleased as they are earning progressively better each year, he added.