Country's fish reserve in danger
Our Correspondent | Tuesday, 29 July 2008
CHITTAGONG, July 28: Regular dumping of harmful substances by mills and factories into the river Karnaphuli and the Bay of Bengal cause death to fish threatening the country's fish reserve greatly.
It is alleged that all mills and factories situated along the river Karnaphuli dump their waste into the river polluting its water. As a result, the river has already turned into one of the most polluted rivers in the region.
Such harmful substances are also contaminating the water around Chittagong and Cox's Bazar coasts alarmingly.
This damaging practice also threatened the hitherto rich fishing ground in the Bay of Bengal as well as the coastal belts, said a marine biologist.
Another source said most of the fishermen had no valid licences for catching fish and they were violating laws by catching fish fries, small fish and egg-bearing fish that which were punishable offences.
The catching of fish fries is rampant in the Bay of Bengal and the coastal areas of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Thousands of fishermen are also catching shrimp fries by using current nets.
One of the leading fish exporters said a few years ago, they used to catch fish from a distance of 60 to 70 kilometres from the shore, but now they had to catch fish in the deep sea (about 150 to 200 kilometres from the coastal belt) because of such pollution.
Abdul Hoque, a fish trader of Chawkbazar in the city, said the authorities concerned should take necessary actions against those who violate the existing law that banned catching of fish fries.
It is alleged that all mills and factories situated along the river Karnaphuli dump their waste into the river polluting its water. As a result, the river has already turned into one of the most polluted rivers in the region.
Such harmful substances are also contaminating the water around Chittagong and Cox's Bazar coasts alarmingly.
This damaging practice also threatened the hitherto rich fishing ground in the Bay of Bengal as well as the coastal belts, said a marine biologist.
Another source said most of the fishermen had no valid licences for catching fish and they were violating laws by catching fish fries, small fish and egg-bearing fish that which were punishable offences.
The catching of fish fries is rampant in the Bay of Bengal and the coastal areas of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Thousands of fishermen are also catching shrimp fries by using current nets.
One of the leading fish exporters said a few years ago, they used to catch fish from a distance of 60 to 70 kilometres from the shore, but now they had to catch fish in the deep sea (about 150 to 200 kilometres from the coastal belt) because of such pollution.
Abdul Hoque, a fish trader of Chawkbazar in the city, said the authorities concerned should take necessary actions against those who violate the existing law that banned catching of fish fries.