Hilsa catching, drives to enforce ban go together

Fishermen catch hilsa from Ramnabad River in Galachipa upazila under Patuakhali district, ignoring the ongoing ban on netting the popular fish during the peak breeding period. Inset, a catch of the fish netted from Tentulia River at Char Wadel in Baufal upazila under the same district.Photo: STAR

A section of fishermen have continued catching hilsa at different points of the Bay and coastal rivers, despite drives by authorities to enforce the September 25 to October 5 ban on catching the popular fish during the peak breeding period.
During the first six days of the ban till September 30, fisheries officials with the help of police and coastguard seized over 4.16 tonnes of hilsa and 4.30 lakh metres of nets from different places in Patuakhali district, said Iqbal Hossain, Patuakhali district fisheries officer (DFO).
In last six days 13 hilsa catchers were jailed and 14 others were fined Tk 61,000, he said, adding that now 61 mobile courts and more 20 mobile teams are working in eight upazilas under the district to strictly enforce the ban.
Teams of the coastguard, police, fisheries departments and mobile courts arrested 89 fishermen from Meghna and Tentulia rivers in Bhola Sadar, Tajumuddin, Charfashion and Lalmohon areas of Bhola district on Sunday, said sources of fisheries department and police.
The teams also seized about seven lakh metres of net and seven fishing trawlers with five maunds of hilsa.
The arrestees were sent to jail to serve terms awarded by mobile courts, said source of Bhola district fisheries office.
During a visit on Saturday morning, this correspondent saw over 20 trawlers engaged in hilsa catching in Rangabali, Koralia, Chalitabunia, Dakkhin Panpatti, Barobaishdia, Chotobaishdia and Char Montaz points of Kazal River in Galachipa upazila under Patuakhali district.
Often they are able to hide before arrival of mobile courts as the news somehow reaches the fishermen, sources said.
In absence of any financial assistance from the government authorities, hard-pressed fishermen tend to defy the short term ban on catching hilsa.
"I have heard about the ban on hilsa catching. But I am landless and have no alternative source of earning although I have to maintain a family of seven members," said Abdul Motin of Koralia village in Chotobaishdia of Galachipa upazila.
Nur Alam Khan of Neta village under Rangabali upazila, said, "Fishing is the only source of income for my eight-member family. The government should provide financial or food assistance to poor fishermen during the ban period."
Md Dadon Mia, a mohajon (money-lender) of Dhulashar village under Kalapara upazila told journalists at Kalapara press club that most fishing trawlers, which are owned by influential people, earlier went to the deep sea to catch hilsa. After end of the ban period they will come loaded with the fish to sell it in the market. Drives by police and coastguard seem futile."
On Wednesday night, coastguard seized 48 maunds of hilsa from the house of Abul Hossain, owner of a trawler. After catching hilsa at night he kept it in his house to sell after end of the ban period, locals said.
During fisheries and livestock secretary's visit to coastal areas in Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna on September 27, local public representatives suggested providing financial assistance to poor fishermen during the ban period to strictly follow the order.
DFO Iqbal Hossain said, "Despite shortage of manpower, vehicles and boats we are trying our best to protect hilsa in the large areas during the peak reproduction season. We are also conducting awareness campaign in this regard."
When contacted, Md Monirul Islam, commander for Kalapara camp of the navy, said, "Many teams of navy men are patrolling in the coastal areas from Chittagong to the Sundarbans. Now no trawler can go to the Bay for fishing. Those who went to the deep sea earlier cannot come to the shore due to our patrol."