The government has set a 22-day ban from Oct 4 to 25 to protect female hilsa during their breeding season, report agencies.
Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhter announced that during this period, the catching, transportation, sale, and storage of hilsa will be strictly prohibited.
According to research by BFRI, the 2024 ban allowed 52.5 per cent of mother hilsa to safely spawn.
The adviser expressed hope that the 2025 drive will be even more organised and effective.
At a press conference on Monday, Farida discussed the "Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2025" and touched on issues related to hilsa availability, pricing, harvest trends, and exports.
"This decision is based on scientific grounds and considers the breeding timeline of female hilsa. The exact dates were determined following advice from the Department of Fisheries, BFRI, and the fishermen themselves," she said.
The breeding season for hilsa runs from Oct 4 to 25, incorporating the critical days before the full moon and after the new moon.
"Both the full moon and new moon are crucial for egg laying, so we've included these phases to maximise spawning," Farida said.
The government will also support 620,140 fishing families across 165 Upazilas by distributing 25kg of rice to each family under the VGF programme, requiring a total of 15,503.50 tonnes of rice.
During this period, hilsa collection, transport, sale, storage, and exchange in rivers will be completely banned. The operation will involve fisheries officials along with the River Police, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force.
The adviser said that intrusion of trawlers outside water boundaries will be strictly controlled, dredging in rivers will be completely halted, and hilsa collection along the sea, coast, and river mouths will also remain fully banned for 22 days during the peak breeding season.
The adviser noted that hilsa require both river and marine environments for their life cycle. Mother hilsa enter freshwater rivers from the sea via estuaries to spawn, with larvae returning to the sea to mature. The Barishal division contributes over 85 percent of national production.
