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Editorial

Use of poison to catch fish in Sundarbans

Take stringent action against the culprits


Bangladeshpost
Published : 17 Nov 2022 07:43 PM

Poisoning the water to net fishes in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest goes on unabated under the very nose of authorities concerned. Some vested quarters led by a councillor of Sutarkhali Union at Dacope Upazila in Khulna District, have leased out the canals crisscrossing through the 715 sqkm reserve area of the forest, according media reports.

The fishermen and poachers are now using poison in rivers, canals and other water bodies in the Sundarbans to catch shrimps, crabs and other fishes. Besides, banned current nets, various pesticides and different types of hooks are also being used to catch the fishes there.

Indiscriminate use of poisons, pesticides and current nets are killing a large quantity of fish in the reserve area of Sundarbans. Such illegal activities are not only just killing fishes but also affecting every kind of marine life there.

In the 6,017 sq km Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans, there are 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimp, 14 species of crabs, 43 species of Mollusca and one species of lobster. These fishes that are caught after consuming poison are also being sold in the markets, posing serious health concerns for people. Use of poison puts fishes and biodiversity in the Sundarbans at risk. 

The law enforcers should net 

the syndicate involved in 

poisoning the water to 

catch fishes immediately

The poisoning is also affecting the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and destroying the breeding cycle of very important aquatic resources. 

The Sundarbans always acts as a natural barrier protecting the country from the effects of various natural disasters like cyclonic storms and floods. The forest department earlier imposed a three-month ban on tourism and fishing in the Sundarbans from June 1 and the ban was effective till August 31. Netting of fish was banned in all the canals in order to promote safe breeding and to preserve aquatic animals.

Usually the ban remains in force from July 1 to August 31.  These three months are the breeding season for most species of fish. As soon as the restriction is lifted, the fishermen start netting but many of them spray poison into the waterways of Sundarbans to easily catch fish. 

But the authorities are reluctant to prevent the organised gangs from fishing in the Sundarbans by poisoning the fishes. Therefore, the law enforcers should launch raids in order to net the syndicate involved in poisoning the water to catch fishes immediately.