Minister calls for success of Jatka Protection Week
Sunday, 21 March 2010
FE Report
The production of Hilsa fish is likely to cross 300,000 tonnes mark in 2009-10, if the Jatka protection programme runs successfully, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas Saturday.
He said, "Fishermen have already caught around 30 tonnes of Jatka (Hilsa fry) this year, but the programme must run effectively as a mother Hilsa fish weighing 1.5-2.00 kg can breed one to two million fry every year."
The total Hilsa production was 298,000 tonnes in the last fiscal through successful implementation of the Jatka protection programme in the last six years.
"This year we hope the production will cross 300,000 tonnes," the minister said at a press conference at the fisheries department on the eve of the Jatka Protection Week 2010.
The Jatka Protection Week 2010 will be observed countrywide from March 21 to 27.
He said the production of Hilsa has increased after the declaration of four sanctuaries of 330km-long stretches in Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Bhola and Patuakhali and clamping a ban on catching of Jatka.
The first sanctuary is a 100km-long stretch on the Meghna river from Shatnol of Chandpur to Char Alexander of Lakshmipur while the second on the 90km Shahbajpur channel of Meghna from Madanpur of Manpura to Char Pial of Bhola district.
The third sanctuary covers 100km-long stretch of Tentulia river from Bheduria of Bhola to Char Rustom of Patuakhali and the fourth on the 40km-long Andharmanik river in Patuakhali.
The minister said a ban on catching of Hilsa will be announced on a 20km sanctuary on the Padma river soon.
He said a ban will also be imposed on catching Hilsa fish during the peak breeding season on about 7000 sq km area of the coastal region for 10 days from October 15 to 24 every year.
In reply to a question, the minister said the government has taken a Tk 230 million programme this year to create alternative jobs for the fishermen during the ban period.
"A proposal worth Tk 1.61 billion for enlisting real fishermen across the country and providing them with identity cards is awaiting approval," Mr Biswas said.
The production of Hilsa fish is likely to cross 300,000 tonnes mark in 2009-10, if the Jatka protection programme runs successfully, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas Saturday.
He said, "Fishermen have already caught around 30 tonnes of Jatka (Hilsa fry) this year, but the programme must run effectively as a mother Hilsa fish weighing 1.5-2.00 kg can breed one to two million fry every year."
The total Hilsa production was 298,000 tonnes in the last fiscal through successful implementation of the Jatka protection programme in the last six years.
"This year we hope the production will cross 300,000 tonnes," the minister said at a press conference at the fisheries department on the eve of the Jatka Protection Week 2010.
The Jatka Protection Week 2010 will be observed countrywide from March 21 to 27.
He said the production of Hilsa has increased after the declaration of four sanctuaries of 330km-long stretches in Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Bhola and Patuakhali and clamping a ban on catching of Jatka.
The first sanctuary is a 100km-long stretch on the Meghna river from Shatnol of Chandpur to Char Alexander of Lakshmipur while the second on the 90km Shahbajpur channel of Meghna from Madanpur of Manpura to Char Pial of Bhola district.
The third sanctuary covers 100km-long stretch of Tentulia river from Bheduria of Bhola to Char Rustom of Patuakhali and the fourth on the 40km-long Andharmanik river in Patuakhali.
The minister said a ban on catching of Hilsa will be announced on a 20km sanctuary on the Padma river soon.
He said a ban will also be imposed on catching Hilsa fish during the peak breeding season on about 7000 sq km area of the coastal region for 10 days from October 15 to 24 every year.
In reply to a question, the minister said the government has taken a Tk 230 million programme this year to create alternative jobs for the fishermen during the ban period.
"A proposal worth Tk 1.61 billion for enlisting real fishermen across the country and providing them with identity cards is awaiting approval," Mr Biswas said.