No go for indoor Hilsa farming, govt issues clarification
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has clarified that there is currently no policy or approval for indoor or artificial-environment hilsa farming in Bangladesh. No individual or institution has been authorised to cultivate hilsa or conduct related activities using fully controlled or intensive aquaculture systems.
The announcement follows a 22 January press release by Pran-RFL Group, which said the company intends to farm hilsa and has signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish firm Assentoft Aquaculture. In response, the ministry held a meeting today to examine the proposal and related technologies.
The meeting, chaired by ministry adviser Farida Akhter and attended by senior officials from the ministry, the Department of Fisheries, and the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, focused on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for intensive farming of hilsa and other marine species.
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Officials emphasised that hilsa is a geographical indicator (GI) product, deeply linked to rivers, coastal ecosystems, food security, traditions, and the livelihoods of millions of fishermen. Since hilsa production relies on natural breeding cycles and river environments, any initiative in this area is highly sensitive and policy-driven.
The ministry stressed that any research, pilot project, or technological activity related to hilsa must comply with existing laws, policies, and national interests, and require prior government approval. Any unauthorised activities will not be accepted, and the public is urged to rely on official information.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, director of Marketing at Pran-RFL Group, told The Business Standard that marine fish farming in Bangladesh is still at a preliminary stage. The final agreement will follow feasibility studies, legal review, and government approval, with environmental and ecological safeguards aligned with international practices.
