Published on 12:00 AM, February 16, 2020

Illegal nets pose threat to fish in coastal area

Fishermen set large trap nets at Harinbaria canal in Taltali upazila, and, below, in a char area of Padma village in Pathorghata upazila of Barguna although the authorities long ago banned the use of such nets, on the grounds that those pose threat to fish species. Photo: Sohrab Hossain
Sohrab Hossain

A section of fishermen have continued catching fish with illegally set large trap nets in the rivers of the coastal area and the shore of the Bay of Bengal, posing threat to different species of marine as well as sweet water fish.

The callous act seems unstoppable despite frequent drives by the Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries.

During this winter, fishing with the large trap nets, locally called chargara, behundi and ghopjals, is a common scene at the mouth of the Baleshwar, Payra and Bishkhali rivers adjoining the Bay, Laldiya, Haringhata, Padma, Rohita, Chhoto Tengara and Charduwani in Barguna's Pathorghata upazila, and Asharchar in Taltali upazila.

Photo: Sohrab Hossain

The banned nets are also used in Gangamati, Fatrar Char, and the char areas near the rivers of Mahipur area in Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila.

In a recent visit to Gangamati, this correspondent saw with chargara nets spread in a large part of the beach area.

The trap net, each 300 to 400 metres long, and 1.5 to two metres high, is set on the slopes of the river and beach. Fish coming with high tide often get trapped there during the low tide. Ghopjal, a similar kind of net, is tied to poles set in the coastal areas of the Bay and mouth of rivers.

Located 12 km south of Pathorghata, Laldiyar Char is a coastal island in the Bay of Bengal. During the winter, different species of fish including the young ones are caught there with the banned nets.

Hiran, known as the owner of the largest ghopjal and chargara nets in Padma, Ruhita, Haringhata and Tengra areas of Pathorghata upazila, said, "I got permission to catch fish with the nets from Khulna last year. I have sold my nets. Now I'm not involved with it."

Nurul Islam, Kalam Mia and Abul Hossain, residents of Haringhata area of ​​Pathorghata, said the administration should take a strong stand to stop use of chargara, ghopjals, and current nets to save fish stock in the coastal areas.

Zakir Hossain Miraj, proprietor of Sonatla Fisheries Hatchery in Pathorghata upazila, said, "The fish resources in our rivers will be threatened if those are caught with sparrow and snake nets [other names of the trap nets] in different rivers of Barguna.

Rabindranath, acting district fisheries officer in Barguna, said they conduct regular drives against fishing with illegal nets in the rivers of the coastal areas of the district.

Biswajit Barua, Coast Guard's commander at Pathorghata, said, "Despite shortage of manpower, we often conduct joint operations to stop use of the banned nets. But a section of the fishermen are too reckless and cunning."

Barguna Deputy Commissioner Mostine Billah said, "We are sincerely trying to stop these unscrupulous fishermen. Alongside conducting drives, we also called them at various meetings to make them aware about the harmful effects of the fishing with these nets." 

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