Illegal hilsa fishing, sales continue in Barishal despite 22-day ban

Illegal hilsa fishing and open sales of the fish have continued unabated along both banks of the Meghna River in Barishal’s Hizla and Mehendiganj upazilas, despite the ongoing 22-day ban imposed to protect mother hilsa during the breeding season.

According to local residents, hilsa caught illegally is being sold every day in at least 30 markets across the two upazilas, with an estimated 2,000-3,000 maunds being traded daily.

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The Fisheries Department has sought the deployment of the army or Coast Guard to strengthen operations in four upazilas in the district and prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Fisheries officials said Hizla and Mehendiganj upazilas had no fisheries officers until shortly before the ban began, with officers posted just a day before the 22-day restriction came into effect on October 8.

Thousands of fishers from at least 10 unions on both banks of the Meghna reportedly take to the river during the ban.

Mahfuzur Rahman, fisheries officer of Mehendiganj upazila, said, “The river is vast, and there are syndicates operating here. We are trying as hard as we can. So far, 10 people have been detained, around five lakh cubic metres of fishing nets have been seized, and 30-35kg of hilsa have been recovered.”

He alleged that the fishers had become increasingly defiant and were attacking enforcement teams. Two days ago, members of the Coast Guard also fired shots, but the illegal fishing continued, he added.

Local fishers told this correspondent that markets in Kaliganj, Burir Pul and Hajir Hat in South Ulania union, Aliganj in Alimabad union, and markets in Char Gopalpur, Jangalia and Bhasanchar unions of Mehendiganj were flooded with small hilsa.

Hizla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ilias Shikder said, “We generally do not conduct operations at night by crossing the turbulent river. It also takes considerable time.”

The administration was conducting drives and had recovered hilsa, which was later donated to orphanages, he added.

Mehendiganj UNO Mohammad Riazur Rahman said, “We have held awareness meetings with fishers, but they have not produced any meaningful results.”

Md Hadiuzzaman, Barishal district fisheries officer, said, “The river becomes extremely dangerous after sunset, making it difficult even to reach some areas. We have virtually no budget this year, so the number of enforcement drives has declined compared with previous years.”

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mamun Khandaker said, “We are conducting drives in one area, but they may be catching fish elsewhere. We have decided to intensify our operations.”

The Fisheries Department said Barishal district has 422,275 registered fishers. Of them, 358,516 are being provided with 25kg of rice each as government assistance during the 22-day hilsa fishing ban.