Hilsa production increased by 29 per cent in last six years, thanks to the government's Jatka and mother Hilsa conservation programmes, speakers at a seminar Thursday said.
They said, a time-befitting conservation law, more budget and integrated drive can boost Hilsa production further.
The observations were made at the seminar titled 'Discussion on the Mother Hilsa Conservation Programme 2014 and Future Development Strategy' organised by Department of Fisheries (DoF) at its office in the city.
The Jatka Conservation, Alternate Income Generation for the Jatka Fishers and Research Project (JCAIGRP) under the DoF disclosed its outcome of the 11-day ban on Hilsa fishing which was observed from October 5 to October 15.
Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque spoke as the chief guest while secretary of the ministry Dr Shelina Afroza as special guest.
Director General of the DoF Dr Syed Arif Azad chaired the programme.
The minister emphasised on a time-befitting law, more budget and an integrated action plan for Hilsa conservation involving fisheries organisations, local administrations, local governments and law enforcement agencies.
The minister said allocation for fishermen during the Hilsa banning periods will be increased in the coming days.
When asked on smuggling of the fish, he said Hilsa is very delicious. This allures the traders.
"But our BGB and Coast Guards are combating illegal trading of Hilsa," he said.
A B M Zahid Habib, project director of the Jatka Conservation, Alternate Income Generation for the Jatka Fishers and Research Project (JCAIGRP) presented the keynote which revealed that nearly 1,074 mobile courts and 4,357 drives were conducted during the 11-day ban from October 5 to October 15 during which 40.65 tonnes of Hilsa was seized.
During the drives, 14.5 million metres of net worth Tk 310 million were seized, the paper said.
A total of 1,348 cases were filed while 723 men were convicted in different cases. They were fined Tk3.8 million, the report said.
During the drive, the Navy officials seized three Indian trawlers, namely, FB Dayamoy, FB Duibon and FB Hansraj on charge of illegal fishing in Bangladesh's territorial waters with 1.68 tonnes of various kinds of fish, it said.
The seized fish were sold in auction and Tk0.45 million was deposited to the government exchequer, the paper said.
Asst Director of the JCAIGRP, DoF Masud Ara Mome said Hilsa production was 0.299 million tonnes in FY'09 which increased to 0.385 million tonnes in FY'14, nearly 29 per cent increase in six years.
She said the Jatka conservation project which started in 21 upazilas of 7 districts now has been extended to 125 upazilas of 25 districts.
She said the Hilsa output will increase in the coming days if we can implement a time-befitting conservation law and increase budget for the fishermen.
Many of the officials present there emphasised that the banning period during spawning should be increased to three weeks in October from one and a half week (11 days) now.
"And while doing so, the affected fishermen should be compensated properly," they said.
Representatives from district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were present in the programme.
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