hilsa
With Hilsa catch declining, Bagerhat fishermen stare at penury
The fishing community in Bagerhat is at its wit's end.
From fishermen to traders, all are worried that the reign of the Hilsa may soon be over due to their Indian counterparts who enter Bangladeshi waters to net at the confluence of two prominent rivers -- the Pashur and the Baleshwar -- in the Bay of Bengal.
This netting at the confluence is hampering the movement of the 'king of fish' that travels from the sea to the sweet river waters, according to Bagerhat fishermen.
Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh
"Many of us just can't afford to venture into the sea for fishing and rely on the rivers for our livelihoods. But netting of the fecund fish at the conference of the two rivers by our Indian counterparts leaves us worried," a local fisherman said.
In fact, this has hit the entire supply chain -- there's not enough supply of the Hilsa in the wholesale markets of the district.
"For long, we have been demanding a ban on fishing at the conference of the rivers so that the 'king of fish' can move and breed freely in the many rivers of Bagerhat," he added.
READ: 2-month ban on hilsa fishing, selling begins Tuesday
Hilsa will soon be on platter of common people, says Rezaul
Hilsa, the gastronome's delight, may soon be within the reach of the common people in Bangladesh, if the government is to be believed.
According to the fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim, the Bangladesh government is trying its best to bring the prices of hilsa down in the country by taking measures to boost production.
“The government is working relentlessly to not only cater to the domestic demand but also earning foreign exchange through hilsa exports," he told reporters at a briefing on the occasion of ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2022’ at the Secretariat.
Read: Hilsha selling like hot cake in wholesale market
Like every year, the government will observe ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2022’ from March 31 to April 6, aiming to create mass awareness on preservation to boost the overall hilsa production, he said.
“The importance of hilsa is immense in meeting the nutrition 'needs' of people, creating employment opportunities, keeping the wheels of the economy active and in the financial-social development. Of the total fish production in the country, 12.22 per cent is hilsa,” he added.
Govt provides food and alternative work for fishers during hilsa catching ban: Fisheries Minister
The government has ensured alternative jobs and food support for fishermen during the period when hilsa catching remains banned, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Monday.
He was speaking at a workshop at a hotel in the city.
He defended the ban during hilsa breeding period as logical, scientific and realistic.
He said besides providing support under VGF programme the government also mulls providing rickshaw, van, livestock and poultry to the fishers affected due to the ban.
Rezaul said the scientific production of hilsa can be raised up to 8.5 metric tonnes a year due to a number of measures taken by the government.
Rezaul also stressed the need for developing a sanctuary for hilsa breeding as river pollution may affect the production.
READ: Covid positive former fisheries minister Narayan Chandra hospitalised
Talking about the Fisheries Act, the minister said the government has enacted the law so no one from the neighbouring countries can catch fish in Bangladesh waters.
A proposal was also made to declare 50 km area of Baleshwar River and its estuary and 348 square Km area as breeding zone for hilsa and it will be the fifth breeding zone in the country.
The area includes Bagi port of Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district to Pakkhir Char point and Sapleza of Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur to Lebue Bagan of Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district.
The breeding zone will help to create a sanctuary as well as boost hilsa production in the country, he added.
READ: Fisheries Minister warns against corruption amid Covid-19 pandemic
High officials of the ministry, university teachers, deputy commissioner concerned, representatives of fishermen were present at the event.
Pori Moni-Raaz enjoy hilsa at Mawa
Actress Pori Moni and her husband 'No Dorai' famed Dhallywood actor Sariful Raaz were spotted hanging out at the most hyped place 'Mawa Ghat' for enjoying 'hilsa' fish in the early hours of Thursday.
Pori Moni has posted some pictures of different moments of Mawa tour on social media.
Read: Pori Moni-Raaz announces pregnancy
She told the media about their Mawa tour, "Raaz and I were quite feeling suffocated at home. So, I made a plan to go to Mawa in a hurry with some family friends."
"Raaz was also very happy. And after a long time I ate hilsa fish at Mawa."
Pori Moni and Raaz were in home isolation for a long time due to fever and cold. And so, they could not take part in the shooting. Pori Moni was not even seen in the recent Film Artistes Association election.
Pori Moni loves to hang out at night. Whenever she manages time, she gets out with her car.
"But now, I can't roam like before due to pregnancy,'' she said.
Read: Pori Moni appeals to HC for quashing charges under narcotic case
Pori Moni announced that she is expecting her first child with actor Sariful Raaz on their Facebook profiles on January 10.
The couple fell in love on the set of noted director Giasuddin Selim's upcoming film 'Gunin'. The actress has recently confirmed that the two got married secretly on October 17 last year.
Bangladesh’s hilsa net looks to get bigger; 5.45 lakh mts output likely next year
The 22-day ban on catching hilsa is expected to yield a very good result as huge mother-hilsas have laid eggs during the period.
Experts said the hilsa production may hit 5.45 lakh metric tonnes if the government takes effective measures for conserving jatka (Hilsa fry). Dr Mohammad Anisur Rahman, a hilsa researcher and chief scientific officer at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, said, “Hilsas lay eggs round the year but mother hilsas come to rivers from sea and lay eggs during the ban period and then go back to the sea. So, it’s very important to ensure the uninterrupted movement of mother hilsas from the sea to rivers.”
Read: Coast guards seize 6.38 cr meters nets, 9,832 kgs Hilsa during ban period “During the breeding period, a mother hilsa usually releases 10-12 lakh eggs and this year, the new moon on the lunar phase occurred on October 6 while the full moon appeared on October 20 which is believed to be the right time of laying eggs. So, we’re getting the results from the ban,” he said. Dr Anisur also suggested taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted movement of mother hilsas from the sea to rivers and their safe spawning during the peak breeding season, stopping sand lifting from rivers and restricting hilsa netting during the ban period. According to a survey, this year 51.7 percent of mother hilsas laid eggs, setting a new record as it is .5% more than the previous year, he said.
Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh
Coast guards seize 6.38 cr meters nets, 9,832 kgs Hilsa during ban period
Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard seized around 6.38 crore meters of illegal nets, 9,832 kgs of Hilsa and 115 boats from the coastal areas and different rivers during the 22-day ban on Hilsa netting that ended Monday midnight.
The ban was imposed from October 4 to October 25 midnight as part of 'Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2021' to ensure safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period.
Lt. Khandaker Munif Taki, media officer at the Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters on Tuesday said a total of 3,049 drives were conducted during the period and 256 fishermen detained for catching Hilsa illegally.
Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban
He said that the seized nets were burnt in the presence of local administration, members of law enforcement agencies and fisheries officials and the seized Hilsa were distributed among local orphanages and the poor.
Besides, the detained fishermen were sentenced to different jail terms and fined through mobile courts.
Hilsa has the highest contribution to the country's fish production, which contributes to more than 12.09% of the country's fish production.
The production of the fish has gone up by 159.76% in the last 15 years.
Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight
The government also imposes ban on catching hilsa during March-April to help the Hilsa fry grow and return to sea.
Hilisa production jumped from 300,000 tons in 2008-09 to 500,000 tons in 2017-18. In the last financial year, 550,000 tons of Hilsa were caught in the country, according to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.
Delicious hilsa set to be back on menu
Looking for hilsa? No worries it is coming back!
Fishermen are taking preparations to resume hilsa netting as a 22-day ban imposed by the government comes to an end Monday midnight.
Besides catching, the ban was imposed on selling, hoarding and transporting the fish until October 25 to ensure safe spawning of the national fish during its peak breeding period.
The law enforcers seized huge mother hilsa and fishing nets, trawlers in different parts of the country for catching hilsa defying the ban.
Read: Fishing trawler hits UNO’s speedboat during Hilsa ban drive in Barishal
Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel carried out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly.
The decision of imposing the ban was taken at a meeting of the National Taskforce held in September with Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim in the chair.
During the meeting, the minister said the government will take strict action against those involved in harming the national interest of the country.
The objective of the restriction is to save mother hilsa which lays eggs during the period.
The peak hilsa season is during the Monsoon months of August, September and October.
Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, hilsa production jumped from 3 lakh mts in 2008-09 to 5 lakh mts in 2017-18. In 2019, hilsa production rose to 5.33 lakh mts.
The ministry has taken different measures to boost its production to 6 lakh mts in the current fiscal.
Hilsa has the highest contribution to the country’s fish production as the single fish species. More than 12.0 per cent of the country’s fish production comes from hilsa.
10 fishermen jailed in Chandpur for violating fishing ban
Ten fishermen were jailed by a mobile court for a year in Chandpur on Thursday for catching hilsa flouting the ongoing fishing ban.
The mobile court led by Chandpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Helal Uddin Chowdhury handed down the verdict.
Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Sudip Bhattacharya said they detained the fishermen conducting a drive in the Meghna River in the early hours of Thursday.
They also seized two trawlers and one lakh meters of banned current nets.
The seized nets were destroyed by setting fire and the two trawlers were kept under the custody of the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department, the officer said.
Read: Hilsa ban: 5 injured in attack during drive in Bhola
The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25.
Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly.
22-day ban on hilsa fishing from Oct 4
The Bangladesh government has imposed a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing, with effect from October 4.
Besides catching, the ban will be enforced on selling and transporting Hilsa to ensure the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25.
Read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Task Force held on Wednesday, with Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim in the chair, the government said in a release.
During the meeting, the Minister said that the government would take strict action against those "involved in harming the national interest of the country". He also urged people to make the ban a success.
The objective of the restrictions on fishing from October 4 to October 25 is to save the mother hilsa which lays eggs during the period.
Read: Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni
At the meeting, the Minister also urged all, including fishermen and their associations, to help make the countrywide programme a success.
Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole
Bangladesh exported 23 tonnes of Hilsa fish to India through Benapole land port Wednesday with less than a month left for the Durga Puja – the biggest festival in West Bengal.
Five trucks carrying 23 tonnes of Hilsa reached the port at 4pm, Md Ishtadul Haque, quality control officer of Benapole Fisheries Office, told UNB. "The Hilsa export to India started today."
Read Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni
Earlier, the government gave the go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10.
The demand for the fish during Durga Puja is very high in states like West Bengal as the Bangladeshi Hilsa, found in the River Padma, is considered to be tastier than the ones found in the Ganges.