Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar has emphasised the urgency of forming a committee to address illegal fishing activities, particularly during the fish catch ban period.
Speaking at a workshop today, Farida Akhtar pointed out that Indian fishermen have been crossing into Bangladeshi waters and fishing during the closed season, exacerbating the country's fishery challenges.
To curb this issue, the Adviser proposed that the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Fisheries Department, the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), the Coast Guard, the Naval Police, and the Navy form a swift committee to address the problem.
She said stressed the need for scientific determination of the appropriate closed season for fishing, particularly with regard to the breeding cycles of key species like hilsa.
In her address at the workshop titled Revised Determination of Fishing Ban Period in the Bay of Bengal, Farida Akhtar recommended that BFRI conduct further research and ensure the results are effectively communicated to the public.
She stressed the importance of determining the correct breeding time and enforcing the fishing ban accordingly, as part of efforts to preserve the fish population for future generations.
"Hilsa is a valuable natural resource, a gift of the nature. We must allow hilsa to grow after spawning, and everyone has a role in this effort. While fishermen are providing us with essential protein, we also have a duty to protect fish stocks and ensure a sustainable future," the adviser said.
She also noted that despite an increase in fish supply, prices of hilsa remain high, which is influenced by various factors including the harvest, distribution and preservation processes.
The adviser highlighted the responsibility of the authorities in ensuring that the population is adequately fed, stressing that both the welfare of fishermen and the protection of marine life must be balanced.
Addressing the issue of illegal fishing, Farida Akhtar warned that the measures taken to restrict fishing in the Bay of Bengal would be ineffective unless fishing nets were controlled. The authorities have already begun operations against manufacturers of illegal fishing nets in Munshiganj, with ongoing raids and fines being imposed on factories producing them.
She urged the Ministry of Industry to refrain from issuing licenses to factories involved in net making.
The workshop, aimed at preserving marine biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable management of fisheries, was chaired by Dr Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Additional Director General of the Fisheries Department.
