Poverty forces coastal fishermen to catch jatka
Thursday, 14 January 2010
BARGUNA, Jan 13 (BSS): Poverty, lack of employment opportunity and river erosion are pushing poor fishermen in the southern coastal districts to catch Hilsha fries, jatka, defying the ban imposed by the authorities to optimise Hilsha production.
Hundreds of poor fishermen are catching jatka with the banned current net from the Tetulia, Andharmanik, Paira, Ramnabad, Bishkhali, Baleshar and Agunmukha rivers.
They said that the ongoing river erosion, unemployment and decrease in crop production had made their survival difficult forcing them to live on fishing the fries.
On the other hand, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Coastguard (CG) have been carrying out raids everyday in the Bay of Bengal and Paira, Biskhali, Andharmanik,Tetulia rivers. The forces have so far seized over 20 tonnes of jatka since November 1.
Besides, the department of fisheries with the help of local administration in several drives seized over 28 tonnes of jatka in last few months. They also recovered an amount of approximately 10 thousand metres of current net and burnt those.
Fisheries department sources said that a seven-month ban on catching 'jatka' from November 1 to May 31 began in all Hilsha producing regions of the country.
Hundreds of poor fishermen are catching jatka with the banned current net from the Tetulia, Andharmanik, Paira, Ramnabad, Bishkhali, Baleshar and Agunmukha rivers.
They said that the ongoing river erosion, unemployment and decrease in crop production had made their survival difficult forcing them to live on fishing the fries.
On the other hand, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Coastguard (CG) have been carrying out raids everyday in the Bay of Bengal and Paira, Biskhali, Andharmanik,Tetulia rivers. The forces have so far seized over 20 tonnes of jatka since November 1.
Besides, the department of fisheries with the help of local administration in several drives seized over 28 tonnes of jatka in last few months. They also recovered an amount of approximately 10 thousand metres of current net and burnt those.
Fisheries department sources said that a seven-month ban on catching 'jatka' from November 1 to May 31 began in all Hilsha producing regions of the country.