22-day ban on hilsa fishing begins tonight

Staff Reporter :

The government has imposed a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing across all rivers and marine waters of Bangladesh, starting from midnight on 4 October and continuing until 25 October, to protect hilsa during its peak breeding season.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced the restriction in a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Shaida Akter Parag.

According to the circular, the measure aims to ensure safe movement and spawning of mother hilsa during this crucial reproductive period.

The ban prohibits the operation of all fishing vessels targeting hilsa, as well as the catching, transporting, storing, marketing, buying, selling, and exchanging of hilsa and all other fish species within Bangladesh’s marine fishing zones during the specified period.

To ensure effective implementation, the Department of Fisheries has formed monitoring teams at both divisional and upazila levels. These teams will work with mobile courts and conduct field operations, with daily progress reports submitted to a central control room in Dhaka.

A coordinated effort will involve the Bangladesh Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and local administrations, who will jointly monitor compliance across rivers and coastal areas.

Alongside enforcement, the government has planned extensive awareness campaigns in fishing villages. These include loudspeaker announcements (miking), rallies, and meetings to inform fishermen and local communities about the importance of the ban in conserving hilsa stocks.
The Ministry has also scheduled consultations with trawler owners, fish traders, transport associations, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring and ensure smooth implementation.

Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, contributes significantly to the country’s economy and food culture. However, overfishing during the breeding season has long threatened its population. Each year, the government imposes temporary bans to safeguard spawning hilsa, which scientists say is vital for sustaining future catches.

Officials have urged fishermen and traders to cooperate with the restrictions, highlighting that protecting breeding mother hilsa today will secure livelihoods and ensure higher catches in the coming months.