The New Nation - Internet Edition

The concerned authorities recently conducted a mass awareness raising campaign about the importance of preserving and promoting fish-wealth in the districts of the Barisal Division. The campaign was conducted as part of enforcement of restrictions that the government imposes every year on netting hilsa fries with length below 23 centimetres and use of nets having mesh below 4.5 centimetres in 11 districts.

In Bangladesh fish is integral to culture and heritage of the people and at the same time an important element of the national economy. Fish is an important source of protein of the people. Fish farming and catching fish is an important field of employment. According to a study, ten percent of the total population are directly involved in fishing, processing and marketing. Bangladesh earn a considerable amount of foreign exchange through export of shrimp and hilsa. This sector accounts for 3.5 percent of the country's GDP and 09 percent of national export.

The importance of restriction on netting fish is revealed from the fact that the annual production of fish eggs in the river Halda, a very important natural breeding point in Asia, dropped from 4,000 kilograms to 100 KGs over a couple of years due to massive accumulation of silt, unplanned use of the river and netting of mother fish. However, according to fisheries department, this quantity of eggs rose to 545 KGs in the last breeding season as a result of a ban. But the bans or restrictions on catching fish throw large number of families to economic hardship.

In view of this importance, all possible measures should be taken to protect and promote this valuable wealth - not only hilsa but all other sweat water and marine fisheries as well.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka