Two-month fishing ban in 5 hilsa sanctuaries begins tomorrow

In a bid to conserve Jatka or juveniles of hilsa, the government has imposed a two-month ban, effective from March 1, on all kinds of fishing in five hilsa sanctuaries across the country.

According to a Fisheries and Livestock Ministry's a press release, the ban from March 1 to April 30 covers five hilsa sanctuaries and areas of six districts including Barishal, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali.

The sanctuaries are: 100 km area of the lower basin of the River Meghna - from Shatnal of Chandpur to Char Alexander of Lakhsmipur; 90km area of Shahbazpur tributary of the River Meghna - from Modonpur/Char Ilsha to Char Pial of Bhola district; about a 100km area of the River Tentulia - from Bheduria of Bhola to Char Rustam of Patuakhali; 20km area of the River Padma - located between Naria and Vedharganj upazilas of Shariatpur and Matlab upazila of Chandpur; and about 82km area of rivers Kalabadar, Gazaria and Meghna flowing through Hijla, Mehendiganj and Barishal Sadar upazilas of Barishal.

The release said that this year, registered fishermen from the six districts of the five sanctuaries will be provided 80kgs of rice per VGF card for two months to compensate for the fishing ban. 

Catching all kinds of fish including hilsa in the sanctuaries of hilsa will be a criminal offence during the time, according to the release.

Violators will be punished with a minimum of one year to a maximum of two years imprisonment or a fine of up to Taka 5,000 or both.