Although, new water has not yet fully arrived in the rivers, haors and canals of Kishoreganj district, known as the largest fishpond of the country local fishermen have started hunting the mother fish already.
They are fishing with various forbidden nets. Although the local administration has taken steps to stop the killing of the mother fish and fish eggs, mother fish hunting is not being stopped for unknown reasons. As a result, experts believe that there may be a major crisis in fish production in Kishoreganj in the coming days.
It has been learned that mother fish is being hunted in various ways in the haor areas, rivers and canals of Kishoreganj comprising 13 upazilas. There is a class of unscrupulous fishermen at different points of the river, hoar, canal and beel who sells fish in the market day and night with various fishing gear including Badai and current nets but no one is there to stop them.
In the last few days, rivers, canals and haors in Kishoreganj Sadar, Karimganj, Itna, Mithamin, Austagram, Tarail, Katiadi, Pakundia, Bhairab Upazilas have been flooded with water. Along with the water came Puti, Batashi, Tangra, Shoal, Magur and various native species of mother fish with eggs. The local unscrupulous groups of fishermen are catching and selling them openly ignoring ban on hunting mother fishs.
According to the local fisheries office, the mother fish usually lay eggs in May-July. As soon as new water starts coming, the fish start hatching. At this time fishing is absolutely forbidden. Under the Fisheries Act of 1950, hunting of eggs and mother fish is legally prohibited.
However, as soon as the water came, local fishermen went down to hunt the mother fish. The demand for fish production this year was 70,530 metric tons. Exceeding the target, the production has been 82,283 metric tons. Fisheries officials believe the production would have been higher if the mother fish had not been hunted unabated like this.
It has been learned that at present, Tengra is being sold at Tk 300 per kg, Batasi at Tk 700, Mola at Tk 400, Boal at Tk 1,000 and Cat fish at Tk 400 in different fish markets of Kishoreganj. 13 upazilas have fishing sanctuaries. At different points, mother fish is being caught with different materials including badai, current, dry net. Egg-rich Tengra, Batasi, Roau, Mrigel, Ghania, Kalbaus, Carp, Magur, Shoal, Putti, Sarputi, Mola, Boal, Taki, Cat fish and other native species of mother fish are being killed openly.
District Fisheries Officer Agriculturist Ripon Kumar Paul said, various activities have been taken to make the storekeepers and fishermen aware. Announcements are being made to make along with regular raids. Last month, 121 raids were conducted and a fine of Tk 3,000 was imposed through two mobile courts. He also mentioned that there is no alternative to protecting mother fish for the sake of national fish production.
