22-day ban on hilsha fishing from Oct 12

A 22-day government ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsha will come into effect from October 12 in a bid to save mother hilsha during peak breeding season.
The ban will continue till November 02.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim disclosed the development after a meeting of 'National Taskforce Committee for hilsha development' in the capital.
The country has been maintaining the Jatka Protection Programme since 2003-2004. After that output of the fish has been increasing.
Anyone found violating the ban will face one to two years rigorous imprisonment with Tk 5,000 fine or both, according to the ministry concerned.
About 75 per cent of the total global hilsha is netted in the country.
The country catched over 0.56 million tonnes of hilsha in the fiscal year of 2021-2022, according to the fisheries department.
Meanwhile UNB report adds: "The government will provide VGF food assistance to the fishermen who will refrain from catching hilsha during the period," said Rezaul Karim.
"Hilsha is not only our national resource; it is a GI certified asset that carries our unique identity in the global arena. Hilsha production has increased breaking all previous records," the minister said.
The objective of the restrictions on fishing is to protect the mother hilsha which lay eggs during the period.
Bangladesh's over 12.0 per cent fish production comes from hilsha, posting the highest contribution to the country's fish output as a single fish species.
Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh, is recognized as a certified patented product of Bangladesh. The marine fish flies to rivers in Bangladesh to lay eggs. The fish is very popular both in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Chandpur is considered one of the largest trading hubs of hilsha in Bangladesh as the fish from the Padma River is much more popular than the ones that come from other rivers because of its extremely pleasing taste.

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