22-day hilsa fishing ban in Bangladesh begins today

NN ONLINE:

Hilsa fishing is banned across Bangladesh’s rivers and marine waters for 22 days, from midnight on 4 October, to protect hilsa during its peak breeding season. The ban was announced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock through a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Shaida Akter Parag.

According to the circular, to ensure safe movement and spawning of mother hilsa during this critical period, all types of fishing vessels are prohibited from catching, transporting, storing, marketing, buying, selling, or exchanging hilsa—and all other fish species—in Bangladesh’s marine fishing zones from 4 October to 25 October.

The Department of Fisheries has established monitoring teams at divisional and upazila levels to enforce the ban, with enforcement carried out through mobile courts and field operations. Daily reports will be submitted to a central control room.

Coordination for enforcement will involve the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and local administrations. Awareness efforts, including miking, rallies, and village meetings, will support compliance.

The government also plans discussions with trawler owners, fish traders, transport associations, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring and implementation of the ban.