We highly appreciate the government for declaring the Halda River, Bangladesh’s largest natural breeding ground for carp fish, as the country’s first ‘Fish Heritage’ site. This great initiative, though late, aims to ensure the safe breeding of various carp fish species and preserve the sanctuary of the Ganges dolphins through conservation of the natural environment.
A news item headlined “Halda River declared Fish Heritage; fishing banned” was published in Thursday’s issue of the Bangladesh Post. Through this initiative, the government has finally come into realisation that the Halda River, must be freed from pollution to protect the natural breeding ground for carp and Ganges dolphins. Through a gazette notification, the government has also banned fishing and other harmful activities in the Halda River, a lifeline for local fishermen.
From April to June, carp spawn in various parts of the river, producing a large number of fertilised eggs. Besides, this uniquely characterised river is a habitat for the critically endangered Ganges dolphins.
Halda Fish Heritage site covers 23,422.28059 acres of land with 93,612 plots along the Halda River flowing through Ramgarh and Manikchhari upazilas in Khagrachhari and Fatikchhari, Raozan, Hathazari upazilas and Panchlaish thana in Chattogram.
The gazette notification stipulates that certain conditions must be met for the utilisation of the Halda River. Those include: No fish or aquatic animals will be caught or hunted from the river; The Department of Fisheries, however, can collect fertilised roes during the breeding season (February to July); No activity is allowed that destroys habitats of animals or plants; Activities harmful to fish, dolphins or other aquatic species are strictly prohibited; Domestic, industrial or institutional waste cannot be discharged into the river; Fishing is prohibited in 17 canals connected to the Halda River during the breeding season; No new water treatment or irrigation projects may withdraw water from the river without approval from the Halda River Fish Heritage Monitoring Committee; Operation of engine-driven heavy vessels is prohibited year-round from the Karnaphuli estuary to the Nazirhat Bridge (sanctuary area); Sand extraction or leasing of sand fields in the Halda River and its tributaries is banned; the use of harmful pesticides or insecticides in farm lands of the river basin is prohibited.
We hope all the action plans taken to preserve the Halda Fish Heritage site will greatly help ensure safe breeding of carp and dolphins in the river. According to an expert, any development activity in the river must be carried out cautiously to avoid harm to biodiversity conservation. Otherwise, the declaration of the Halda River as a fish heritage site will yield no effective result.
