65-day ban on hilsa netting at sea from May 20 midnight

Fishermen working on a fishing Trawler.

Patuakhali: A 65-day ban on all types of fishing will begin from midnight on May 20 (Saturday) for breeding, growth and conservation of hilsa in the sea. The Fisheries Department has imposed this ban till July 23. Due to the ban, hundreds of trawlers and boats from the deep sea have already returned to the Shibbaria river at the Mahipur fishing port on the coast.
However, the fishermen have expressed anger at such a decision of the fisheries department. They demand that this ban be enforced in coordination with the neighboring country India. In addition, they also demand strict restrictions to stop Indian fishermen from entering the country's waters and fishing. According to the fishermen hilsa fishing was affected by cyclone Mokha. No trawler could go to sea to hunt fish. The ban would become a blow to them.
Meanwhile, during the ban last year, about 49,000 registered hilsa fishermen of the coast were given 86 kg of rice by the Fisheries Department. But the fishermen are angry about it. 60 percent of actual fishermen are deprived of this incentive. They demand financial assistance by bringing them under the list.
Apu Saha, Kalapara Upazila senior Fisheries Officer said that recommendations have  been sent to increase food promotion. Hope the ministry will implement it soon. - Gofran Biswas Palash