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Protect Jatka, get more hilsa: Minister


Published : 01 Apr 2023 10:08 PM

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim put emphasis on protection of Jatka and mother hilsa to increase production of this popular variety of fish.

If the production  increases, the price of hilsa will come within the affordability of all people, he said.

The minister said this while inaugurating “Jatka Conservation Week 2023” at HularHat Secondary School in Pirojpur District on Saturday. 

“If the ongoing programmes to protect Jatka and mother hilsa are properly implemented, hilsa will be available throughout the year,” SM Rezaul Karim said.

“I hope, then all the people of Bangladesh will be able to buy hilsa. The ministry is working tirelessly to this end,” he said.

The minister said the country would also be able to earn foreign currency by exporting hilsa after meeting local demand. Like previous years, the Jatka (hilsa fry) Conservation Week-2023 will be observed from April 1 to April 7 aiming to create awareness about the preservation of hilsa fry and discourage all concerned, including fishermen, from catching the fish.

The production of hilsa was 2.98 lakh tones in FY 2008-09 while it increased to 5.65 lakh tones in FY 2020-21, he said.

Various programmes were scheduled at central and district-upazila level during Jatka Conservation Week.

The programmes include press conferences, inaugural rallies, naval rallies and discussion events, distribution of poster-leaflets, sports, cultural events and discussion meetings, conducting mobile courts and campaign to protect Jatka.

Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country’s fish production as the single fish species.