Hilsha catching embargo extended by 8 days

The government has extended the timeframe of mother hilsha catching embargo by eight days in the Jhatka production areas across the country as the embargo has been imposed on breeding seasons to increase the production of hilsha.

"The government earlier had imposed a ban on catching mother hilsha for 22 days during the breeding seasons and now it has been increased to 30 days," said an official release quoting Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haq.

Sayedul made the announcement while addressing a seminar titled 'Preserving jhatkas and establishing sanctuary to increase hilsha production: research-progress' at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) in the city.

Over the few years, on an average the production of Hilsha increased to 10,000-12,000 tonnes for taking various measures against the catching of Jhatka and mother fishes, said the release, adding that the production of hilsha in 2015-16 fiscal year had increased to nearly 4 lakh tonnes. 

The production of Hilsha would increase significantly in the current 2016-17 fiscal year, said the minister. 

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) arranged the seminar with its Director General Dr Yahia Mahmud in the chair.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary M Maksudul Hasan Khan and Director General of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) Syed Arif Azad spoke on the occasion.

Source: BSS