Fishermen demanding end to illegal trawling in Bay of Bengal

Fishermen staged a human chain in Kalapara on Saturday and demanded stopping of illegal trawling in the Bay.

Kalapara (Patuakhali): Local fishermen and fish traders have formed a human chain in Kalapara, Patuakhali, demanding an end to illegal trawling, bottom trawling and use of banned nets in the Bay of Bengal. More than five hundred fishermen and fish traders participated in the program organized at Ashakhali Fisheries Port in the upazila around 10 am on Saturday (July 18).

Ashakhali Fisheries Traders Association President Md. Mainuddin Dalal, General Secretary Md. Shamim Reza, fish traders Md. Shahzada Hawlader, Md. Mortuza Ahmed, fishermen Sohag Gazi and Md. Saidul, along with local fishermen, spoke at the human chain.

The speakers said that some unscrupulous groups have been conducting illegal trawling in the Bay of Bengal for a long time. In addition, marine biodiversity and fish reproduction are being severely damaged due to indiscriminate fishing using various prohibited nets, including bottom trawling and behundi nets. Thousands of fishing families in the coastal areas are facing a livelihood crisis due to this decrease in fish production. They demand that regular campaigns should be conducted against illegal trawling and prohibited nets. At the same time, effective measures should be taken quickly to conserve marine fisheries resources and protect the livelihoods of fishermen.

In this regard, Kalapara Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said, "Since it is not affiliated with the mobile court in the schedule of the Marine Fisheries Act-2020, the mobile court cannot operate. Even nets and trawlers cannot be destroyed without filing a case. After filing a case, nets and trawlers are being released on bail from the court. Due to the lack of vessels of the Fisheries Department, proper surveillance in the sea is not being carried out."

Apu Saha also said that the trawling traders have brought an order from the High Court. So that for the next six months we will not be able to arrest, let alone harass, anyone involved in trolling. We will appeal against that order on behalf of the government.’ - Gofran Palash