CHATTOGRAM, June 19: The brood fishes started releasing fertilised eggs in the early hours of Monday in Halda River, the lone natural spawning centre for carp fishes in the country.
Earlier, fishes released sample eggs in the water of Halda from Sunday noon to test the congenial aquatic atmosphere. After the rain, the brood fishes started releasing fertilised eggs in full swing from 1:00 am on Monday.
Shahidul Alam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Hathazari, said, "The brooding of eggs will be continued till one or two weeks in the season. We have taken all necessary measures to prevent netting the mother fishes and save the prime source of spawning in Halda. The brooding of eggs is likely to be satisfactory this year."
"The mother fishes have started releasing eggs after the rain on Sunday. The egg collectors are now collecting the eggs. All the hatcheries are being prepared for preserving the eggs," he added.
According to the egg collectors, they have been collecting the fertilised eggs from Gorduara to Modunaghat area under Hathazari upazila and Barighona area at Urkirchar under Raojan upazila in Chattogram from Sunday night. Most of the eggs are being collected from Ajimer Ghat, Khalifar Ghona, Onkuri Ghona, Ninajuru, Sonair Mukh, Abur Khil, Sattar Ghat, South Gohira, Mogdhai, Mobarak Khil, Urkirchar, Napiter Ghat, Sipahir Ghat areas.
Professor Dr Shafiqul Islam, a Halda researcher, said that the brood fishes started to release fertilised eggs in Halda from 1:00 am Monday.
Professor Dr Manjurul Kibria of Zoology Department of Chattogram University said, "The brood fishes started releasing the fertilised eggs in Halda River this season after the rain on Sunday night."
Several hundreds of fishermen and egg collectors were collecting eggs from Halda as the river is a very favourable breeding centre for Ruhi, Mrigel, Katla, etc. species. The boats of the egg collectors and fishermen were seen floating here and there in Halda on Monday as they were waiting for rain.
Alamgir Hossain, an egg collector, said, "I used to collect the eggs from Aunkuri Ghona area earlier. I have also collected eggs from that place on Monday."
The government has declared Halda River as "Bangabandhu Fisheries Heritage" on December 24 in 2020. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a circular declaring the river and 23,422 acres of land adjoining the banks of the river as "Bangabandhu Fisheries Heritage".
The declaration will help preserve the fishes and environment of Halda from pollution and biodiversity damage.
According to sources, Halda is the only river in the country where fishermen can collect fertilised eggs and hatch them later on.
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