Govt explores alternative livelihoods for fishermen during hilsa ban

The government is exploring sustainable alternative livelihoods for fishermen who face financial hardship during the annual hilsa fishing ban, Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said today (13 October).

He made the remarks at a programme in Chandpur Sadar, where rice was distributed among registered fishermen under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme as part of the 2026 mother hilsa conservation campaign.

The minister said fishing families face financial difficulties during the suspension, forcing many to borrow money and deepening their economic hardship.

The government is therefore exploring sustainable alternative income sources to help them support their families during the ban, he added.

Rashid stressed the need to introduce modern, locally suitable livelihood opportunities, including cage fish farming in rivers, taking Chandpur's geographical characteristics into account.

Conventional pond-based fish farming is not always viable in the region, he said, as rising water levels during the monsoon can cause fish to escape. Alternative livelihoods should therefore be adapted to local conditions.

The minister also said government assistance alone would not be enough to protect mother hilsa, emphasising the need to raise awareness and encourage fishermen to take responsibility for conservation.

Allowing mother hilsa to spawn without disruption would help increase future production, ultimately benefiting fishermen themselves, he added.

The programme was chaired by Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman and attended by local representatives, fisheries department officials and fishermen.

The minister later distributed VGF rice among fishermen who were abstaining from hilsa fishing.