Halda river, known as Bangabandhu Fisheries Heritage, has a full breeding season of Mother Carp fish now.
The egg collectors are expecting the mother fish to lay eggs in full swing when the hill slopes enter Halda river during this breeding season. The egg collectors went down many rivers with nets but did not get enough eggs.
Although three periods of the breeding season, which started from April, have passed, the desired eggs of carp fish have not been found in Halda.
A very small quantity of sample eggs were available at some spawning grounds in Halda till Thursday morning. But due to the salt water that entered the Halda during the tide, no more egg samples were found. If the hill slope comes down with sufficient rainfall, the salinity will decrease and there is a strong possibility of spawning of carp mother fish if favourable environment is created.
Local fishermen said that there is a demand across the country for Renu, Pona produced from Halda river fish eggs. The price is also good. Halda fry grows faster than artificially produced fry in normal hatcheries. Fishermen benefit from this.
Halda researcher and Head of Biology Department of Chattogram Cantonment Public College, Dr Md Shafiqul Islam said, if it rains, the quality of other parameters including salinity will come within the ideal range. There is a possibility of egg hatching in this May if there is sufficient amount of rain along with thunder and hilly downpour.
If not, the mother carp will spawn during the next June full moon (1-6) or the latest (15-20) June new moon.
