The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The government has undertaken an action plan to preserve the breeding places of hilsa across the country, targeting to increase its production up to about 300,000 tonnes during the current fiscal.

Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Sharful Alam while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday said the hilsha production stood up to around 2.98 lakh tonnes in 2008-09 from 1.99 lakh tonnes in 2002-03.

"Now the production of hilsha has to be raised to 300,000 tonnes in 2009-10 fiscal year to meet the growing demand for protein in the country," Alam said.

The press conference was organized by the Department of Fisheries (DOF) on the eve of the 10-day (October 15 to 24) hilsha breeding place preservation drive.

The secretary said elaborate programme was also chalked out to implement the act on preserving the hilsha breeding places during the next ten days beginning today.

Nearly 65 percent matured hilsha is being caught by the fishermen during the August-October period every year, he said and stressed the need for its proper protection to raise production.

Sharful Alam said the government usually imposes ban on hilsha catch every year during this time along the coastal areas as about 70-80 per cent hilsha become matured and most of the spawns (eggs) are being released during the September-October breeding season. "Strict implementation of the hilsha ban act, especially for ten days, create awareness among the people not to catch gravid hilsha, preservation of its male and female and overall increase in its production," he said.

The government, meanwhile, declared another hilsha sanctuary in the downstream of Padma in Shariatpur district, Alam said adding that hilsha now represents its stake with 12 percent in total annual supply of fishes to all consumers.

The press conference was told that the ban on hilsha catch would be strictly followed in four sanctuaries, 21 upazilas in seven coastal districts.

The sanctuaries are: Shaher Khali- Haitkhandi point under Mirsarai upazila in Chittagong district, north Kutubdia- Ghandamara under Kutubdia upazila in Chittagong district, north Tazumuddin-west Syed Awlia point under Tazumuddin upazila in Bhola district and 7,000 sq. kilometres Latachapali point under Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district.

The 21 upazilas are: Lalmohan, Tazumuddin, Charfashion, Manpura, Dawlatkhan under Bhola district; Dasmina, Galachipa and Kalapara under Patuakhali district; Ramghati, Kamalnagar under Lakshipur, Subarnachar, Hatia and Companiganj under Noakhali district; Sonagaji under Feni dsitrict; Mirsarai, Sitakundu, Anwara, Bashkhali and Swandip under Chittagong district and Kutubdia and Maheshkhali under Cox's bazaar district.

Officials of the Department of Fisheries, district administration, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Police have been deployed in these areas to implement the programme.

According to the officials, as many as 500,000 fishermen directly and 20,00,000 people indirectly are involved with the hilsha fishing, transport and marketing in the country.

They said at least 60 percent of the total catch of hilsha around the globe is being done in Bangladesh, which commands the absolute ownership of this renewable natural resources.

The government expects that all sections of the people will come forward with a missionary zeal to protect Jhatka or immature hilshas from the wrath of illegal catchers in the greater national interest.