Securing hilsa breeding: 22-day ban to protect mother fish from 4 Oct
Department of Fisheries stated that the timeframe was determined in consultation with the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, other organisations, and fishermen
A 22-day campaign to protect mother hilsa during the main breeding season will run from 4 to 25 October, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced today (29 September).
At a press conference, Fisheries Adviser Farida Akhter said a gazette notification has been issued prohibiting the catching, transporting, storing, marketing, buying, selling, and exchanging of hilsa across the country to ensure that mature fish can lay eggs safely.
The Department of Fisheries stated that the timeframe was determined in consultation with the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), other organisations, and fishermen.
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The ban covers both full moon and new moon periods of the Bangla month of Ashwin, when breeding peaks.
During the campaign, hilsa catching in rivers, coastal areas, estuaries, and the sea will be strictly prohibited. Entry of fishing trawlers into territorial waters will be controlled, and dredging activities will be suspended.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Naval Police, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force, will take part in the operation.
As part of the initiative, 620,140 fishing families across 165 upazilas in 37 districts will receive 25kg of rice each under the VGF programme, requiring 15,503.50 tonnes of rice in total.
The adviser said the 2025 campaign would be more organised and effective than in previous years.
In the 22-day campaign last year, 54.86 tonnes of hilsa were seized, 612.11 lakh metres of nets destroyed, and Tk75.27 lakh in fines collected through 2,169 mobile courts and 9,813 raids.
Research by BFRI showed that the 2024 ban allowed 52.5% of mother hilsa to lay eggs, adding an estimated 44,250 crore jatka (young hilsa) to the population.
