22-day ban on hilsa fishing begins 8 Oct

The government has imposed a 22-day nationwide ban on catching hilsa from 8 to 29 October to ensure the safe spawning of the national fish during its peak breeding season.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Task Force Committee on Hilsa Resource Development at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock today (15 September) to review the implementation of the "Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2026", according to a press release.

During the ban, hilsa transportation, storage, marketing, purchase, sale, and exchange will also remain prohibited nationwide.

Fishermen who refrain from fishing will receive VGF food assistance, while a mother hilsa conservation drive will also be conducted.

Speaking at the meeting, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said there would be no concessions in protecting mother hilsa to ensure sustainable production.

"Surveillance and drives must be strengthened in major hilsa spawning areas, including Barishal, Chandpur, and Bhola," he said.

He instructed district administrations, the Naval Police, Coast Guard, and Department of Fisheries to work together to strictly enforce the ban. Additional boats and logistical support will be provided at hotspots if necessary, he added.

The minister also called for increased monitoring at ice factories, fish landing centres, and markets to prevent the marketing of illegally caught fish.

He instructed authorities to conduct strict drives to remove illegal nets from hilsa breeding grounds, including the Chandpur confluence. "There can be no opportunity to catch or market fish during the ban under any circumstances," he said.

He expressed hope that continued coordination among relevant agencies to protect mother hilsa would help increase production in the next season.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said research was needed to identify the reasons behind declining hilsa production.

"We need to identify weaknesses or gaps in our activities and take necessary measures," he said.

Emphasising the need to stop the use of illegal nets, he called for effective measures to prevent their production and sale. He also urged fishermen's representatives to raise awareness among fishers about refraining from buying such nets.

The government is providing incentives to fishermen to refrain from fishing during the ban, while monitoring will be strengthened to ensure the assistance reaches genuine fishermen, he said.

"The decline in hilsa production to the point where we have to import fish from abroad is a matter of concern," the state minister said.

He said a coordinated action plan would be taken to protect hilsa as a national resource and GI product and increase its production.