Fishing ban in Bay to be reduced to 58 days: Fisheries adviser

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today (17 February) said the restriction on fishing in the Bay of Bengal will now be for 58 days instead of the previous 65 days.

"This year the ban will be shortened to 58 days from 15 April to 11 June, the adviser said while speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat.

She said that the ban on fishing all types of fish, shrimp, crab, lobster and other crustaceans was initially imposed to increase the production of Hilsa and other fish species in the Bay of Bengal.

The 65-day ban which had been in place for many years resulted in a record increase of 12.78% in marine fishery resources, she said.

Due to a lack of coordination with neighboring countries during the ban period fishermen from those countries have been taking advantage of Bangladesh's fish harvest, said the adviser.

Fishing organisations and fishermen demanded a more coordinated approach to the ban period, she added.

"Following their demand, a technical committee was formed, consisting of experts from the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, and other stakeholders.

The committee decided to impose a 58-day fishing ban from 15 April 15 to 11 June, as this is the breeding period for most commercially important fish in the Bay of Bengal."

Besides, discussions are underway regarding a proposal to impose a fishing ban for 20 days, or up to a month in the Haor region from 15 May 15 to 14 June, in order to preserve local fish stocks, added the adviser.