Home ›› 19 Sep 2022 ›› Nation
The fishermen of Bhola are in a festive mood after netting a good amount of hilsa as the season is nearing its end.
The Meghna and Tetulia rivers were lacking in hilsa during the peak fishing season. But the fishermen and traders are happy now getting the desired amount of fish from the rivers.
The fish markets of Bhola are now bustling with wholesalers, retailers and fishermen busy with trade and transport of hilsa.
However, though the fishermen are satisfied with the current catch, they are worried about the upcoming fishing ban.
Fisheries department resources said the government has banned fishing and selling hilsa for 22 days from October 7.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Task Force Committee on Hilsa Resource Development chaired by Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim at Matsya Bhaban in Dhaka on Thursday.
The government banned hilsa fishing throughout the country from October 7 to 28 to ensure the safe breeding of hilsa during the peak breeding season.
During this time, nationwide hilsa transportation, buying and selling, storage and exchange will be completely prohibited.
Still, the fishermen are trying to compensate for the losses of the past few weeks during this short window.
Visiting the fish markets at Meghna and Tetulia river ports recently, this correspondent found that fishers and traders are busy offloading and selling hilsa. The trades are going on all day long.
Hanif Majhi, a fisherman from Ilisha area on the bank of the Meghna, said, “We were disheartened after not getting any hilsa at the beginning of the season. The situation was so bad that we did not even catch any fish to eat.”
He added that now they are not only getting a good amount of fish every day but the prices are also good. He expects to recover his previous losses.
Bashir Majhi, a fisherman who came to sell hilsa at Tulatuli Ghat on the bank of Tetulia River in Bhola Sadar upazila, said although there was a scarcity of hilsa in the rivers at the beginning of the season, for the past few days they are catching a lot of fish. “I am selling hilsa worth Tk 8,000-10,000 every day,” he added.
Kamal Miah, a trader from Tulatuli fish market, said, “The traders were also worried at the beginning of the season. But the situation has improved now as business is good for us, and the fishermen are also happy to be able to pay off their debts.”
He added that if the government delays the fishing ban 10 days from the fixed date, the marginal fishermen and merchants will be able to recover the losses.
Iqbal Hossain Matubbar, general secretary of Bangladesh Khudro Matsyajibi Jele Samity, said the hilsa fishing season began two months ago.
“Usually August is the prime time for hilsa fishing as the rivers remain full of fish during monsoon. But the fishermen of the district were in despair this season due to a lack of fish in the rivers,” he said, adding that fishermen are slowly recovering from their losses after getting a good amount of hilsa in the recent weeks.
Bhola Sadar upazila Fisheries Officer Jamal Hossain said there were no hilsa in the rivers at the beginning of the season due to temperature rise, the effect of salty water in the river and insufficient rain.
“The fishes are returning to the rivers as the weather is favourable now. Fishermen are satisfied with the catch,” he said.
Bhola District Fisheries Officer Molla Obaidullah said there were no hilsa as a lack of rain left the rivers shallower than usual during monsoon.
“We expect that the fishermen will be able to make a good profit before the fishing ban begins. The government will provide Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) food assistance to the fishermen during the ban period,” he added.
Around two lakh people earn their livelihood by catching fish in the rivers of Bhola. Among them, 1,39,000 are registered fishermen.
According to the Department of Fisheries, about 25 per cent of the country’s demand for hilsa is met from Bhola. Hilsa fishing is a big part of the district’s economy.
