Hilsha ban ends on Saturday midnight

The 22-day nationwide ban on catching, transporting, and selling Hilsha ends at Saturday midnight.

Fishermen across the country are ready to head back to rivers and the sea as the government’s conservation period for safe Hilsha breeding comes to a close.

With the ban lifting at midnight, trawlers are expected to set sail early Sunday, marking the resumption of Hilsha fishing across the country’s coastal waters and major rivers.

The annual ban, which began on October 4 and continued till October 25 midnight, was imposed by the government to ensure safe spawning of Hilsha during the peak breeding season for boosting fish production in the country.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, along with law enforcement agencies, carried out extensive drives across coastal districts to ensure compliance with the restriction.

Officials from the Department of Fisheries said the embargo helped protect millions of mother Hilsha, contributing to smooth growing of the country’s most popular fish.

“Strict monitoring was maintained across all major Hilsha breeding zones, including Chandpur, Bhola, Barishal, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Laxmipur,” a senior fisheries officer told BSS.

“We expect a significant boost in Hilsha production in the upcoming season as a result of the ban,” he said.

During the restriction period, around 65,000 enforcement drives were conducted and several hundred illegal fishing nets were seized and destroyed, officials said.

The government also distributed food assistance among registered fishermen families affected by the temporary suspension of fishing activities.

Hilsha recognised as the national fish of Bangladesh, contributes nearly 12 percent to the country’s total fish production and plays a vital role in the livelihoods of millions of coastal fishermen.

-BSS