142 maunds of hilsa fry seized in Meghna

Members of law enforcers seized 142.7 maunds of hilsa fry locally known as jatka in Bhola and Chandpur on Thursday.

Acting on information, a team of Coast Guard South Zone conducted the drive in Ramdaspur area of the Meghna River under Bhola Sadar around 4am and seized 138 maunds of Jatka, 12 maunds of poa fish and 23 maunds of small shrimp fish after searching two engine powered boats, Lieutenant KM Shafiul Kinjal, media officer of Coast Guard South Zone said.

River Police arrested 29 fishermen for violating the two-month ban on catching hilsa fry – imposed by the government – in the Padma-Meghna river sanctuary area of Chandpur to increase the production of hilsa and protect hilsa fry.

The arrested fishermen were from Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, and Matlab North of Chandpur.

During the arrest, river police seized about 28,56,900 metres of current nets, 5 fishing boats, and 4.7 maunds of hilsa fry from the fishermen.

Contacted, Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station, said law enforcers conducted a day-long operation in the sanctuary area to protect ‘jatka’ (hilsa fry less than 9 inches or 23 centimetres in length).

“During the drive, we have arrested 29 fishermen for violating the 2-month ban on catching the fry,” he said.

Of the arrested fishermen, eight were sentenced to one month’s rigorous imprisonment, and 18 others were regularly booked under the Fisheries Act with Sadar Model Police Station. Three minors were cautioned and released into the custody of their families

The government imposed a two-month ban on catching hilsa fry to increase the production of hilsa in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary under Chandpur, Shariatpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal and Bhola districts.

Seventy km sanctuary of Meghna in Sadar, Haimchar, Matlab North, and Matlab South upazilas of the Chandpur district are also under restriction.

Those who violate the ban are subjected to a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine of Tk 5,000, or both.