Syncing Bay of Bengal fishing ban with India: Relief for both ecosystem and fishermen
Because India’s ban ended shortly before Bangladesh’s began, Indian fishers frequently entered Bangladeshi waters during this period, as alleged by Bangladeshi fishers

Barguna's Sujon Majhi had a small window for fishing; the weather was uncooperative when the 58-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal ended on 12 June.
Like most other sea-bound fishermen this season, Sujon managed to stay at sea for only three days. However, despite the short window, his small boat caught fish worth Tk2 lakh.
"In previous years, we returned to the sea in July when Indian fishermen had already been fishing for over a month; we spent three days just searching for fish. But this year was different," Sujon told The Business Standard.
The 58-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal had begun on 15 April. This roughly aligns with the period India observes a fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal before returning to the sea.
For a long time, fisheries researchers, fishers and traders in the country had demanded revising the ban period to match India's timeline. They also called for a reassessment of the necessity of the previously imposed 65-day ban (20 May to 23 July).
While Bangladesh and India enforced bans at different times, Bangladeshi fishers and traders often accused Indian fishers of entering deep into Bangladeshi waters to fish.
Due to the difference in ban periods in the same area, the main objective of the ban — to protect the breeding and spawning cycles of marine fish, particularly hilsa, Indian mackerel and shrimp — was rarely achieved.
"My boat is small, so my turnaround is usually low. During the previous ban period, I would barely make sales of Tk1 lakh or more in a trip. But I am very happy we caught more this time, as the government accepted our demand and aligned the fishing ban with India's timeframe," said Sujon Majhi.
Why the ban is necessary
Scientific studies, including those by WorldFish and regional fisheries bodies, show that unrestricted fishing during peak breeding months severely depletes fish stocks, threatening their long-term sustainability.
"Seasonal fishing closures promote the safeguarding of species by restraining fishing and protecting them during their spawning season," states a research article published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Bangladesh introduced its 65-day fishing ban in 2015, while India has observed a similar ban since 1998 along its east coast. However, the problem lay in the timeframe Bangladesh had chosen — it neither benefited the fisheries nor the fishers.
India observes the ban from 15 April to 14 June every year, whereas Bangladesh's ban was set from 20 May to 23 July. Because India's ban ended shortly before Bangladesh's began, Indian fishers frequently entered Bangladeshi waters during this period, as widely alleged by Bangladeshi fishers.
Since both bans occurred at different times, the fisheries were not given adequate time and safety for breeding, as fishing pressure continued uninterrupted.
The revised fishing ban period, from 15 April to 12 June, aligns more closely with the peak breeding and spawning season of key commercial species — hilsa, Indian mackerel and shrimp — in the Bay of Bengal.
Studies, including those by the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) and WorldFish, confirm that most marine species breed between April and June, making this period critical for stock regeneration.
Previously, Bangladesh's May–July ban missed much of this biological window, reducing its effectiveness. Aligning with India's schedule ensures better protection of shared fish stocks and supports sustainable fisheries management.
The bottom water fish are back
Saidul Islam, captain of FV Lakkha, said he had long witnessed Indian fishers operating deep within Bangladesh's waters during the ban period.
"They entered as far as 75 nautical miles into Bangladesh's waters when we were under the ban," Saidul said. He recalled seeing around 150 Indian boats deep inside Bangladeshi territory just after they returned to sea following the end of the previous ban on 23 July.
"We even chased the Indian fishers away while our navy hardly took any action against them in the past 17 years," said Captain Saidul, who has been fishing in the Bay of Bengal for around 25 years. "Instead, they would charge at us whenever they got the chance."
Saidul was one of the captains who took advantage of the short fishing window, braving unfavourable weather after the ban ended on 11 June. He said some commercial fishing vessels ventured into the sea for three days despite the risks, so they could at least set up their fishing gear in preparation for smoother operations once the weather improved.
"We went out for three days, but accounting for the time spent travelling back and forth, we actually fished for only two days — and caught around 35 tonnes of fish in that short time," Saidul said. "Catching this much fish in such a small window was simply unmatched in recent seasons. This is like a record in the last five to six years."
It might be too early to predict the entire fishing season, but the signs are promising, he added.
What especially pleased Saidul this season was the return of bottom water fish.
"We have three types of fishing permits — mid-water fishing, shrimp fishing and bottom fishing. But for several years we couldn't get fish from the bottom waters," he explained.
"Indian boats used to come into our waters and trawl the bottom fish; some Bangladeshi boats, illegally, from areas like Satkhira, Bashkhali and Barguna, followed suit. Because of this bottom trawling by both Indian and Bangladeshi fishers, we rarely found bottom water fish after the ban was lifted. But this is the first time in years that we've harvested these species again — including Poa, Aila fish, Narkeli fish and others," Saidul said.
An opportunity for the Bay of Bengal fisheries
Mir Mohammad Ali, former researcher at the international fisheries research organisation WorldFish and assistant professor at the Department of Aquaculture at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, considers the decision to revise the fishing ban in Bangladesh's waters to align with India's as a landmark move.
The previous ban, he said, ended up benefiting Indian fishers rather than their Bangladeshi counterparts — and was also harmful to the fisheries themselves.
"In the past, just as our fishermen were deprived, so too were the Bay of Bengal and its fisheries. The fishing window was open for someone — either India or Bangladesh — from April to July," Mohammad Ali said.
Because fishers from either side used to operate throughout these breeding months, the breeding and spawning of fish were severely disrupted.
"Due to the realignment, many fish species are now getting the chance to breed and be nurtured during the peak breeding season of April and May," he said.
"The fish stock will increase, although the main benefit of this measure will be seen from next year. This is an opportunity for both the Bay of Bengal fisheries and the industry as a whole."
Mohammad Ali also stressed that to ensure the ban's effectiveness and maximise its benefits, fishing vessels and fishers must be properly monitored and registered.
"A tracking system for sea-going boats is urgently needed to ensure that no vessels venture into the sea during the breeding season," he added.