Barguna, Oct 08 (V7N) – Buyers are flocking to the BFDC Fish Landing Centre in Patharghata ahead of a 22-day fishing ban to buy hilsa, but many are returning disappointed as the much-anticipated fish remains scarce despite hundreds of fishing boats arriving at the country’s second-largest fish landing centre.
The 22-day ban to protect brood hilsa begins at 12:01am on Thursday, Oct 8, and will remain in effect until midnight on Oct 29. During the ban, fishing in rivers and the sea, as well as catching, storing, transporting, marketing and buying or selling fish, will remain prohibited.
According to the Patharghata Upazila Fisheries Office, 16,820 fishermen are registered in the upazila. Of them, 13,500 are expected to receive government food assistance during the 22-day fishing ban.
Hundreds of fishing boats returned from the sea and anchored at the Patharghata BFDC landing centre ahead of the ban. Fishermen and wholesalers were busy selling their catches, but many said the volume of fish was lower than expected, raising concerns about possible losses.
The shortage has also pushed up hilsa prices, disappointing local buyers who had hoped to purchase fish at lower prices before the ban.
Buyer Imam Hossain Nahid said people usually wait for this period to buy hilsa directly from the landing centre at comparatively lower prices.
“This year, however, the price is much higher than expected. We came hoping to buy hilsa for our families, but the high prices have made it difficult,” he said.
According to buyers, hilsa was being sold at Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000 more per maund than on normal days.
Fishermen said the 22-day fishing ban would leave them without income and make it difficult to meet household expenses, children’s education costs and loan instalments.
They said government rice assistance would provide some relief but called for additional cash support during the ban to help them cope with the loss of income.
Fishermen also blamed illegal fishing nets and trawling for the declining availability of fish in the sea. They called for stronger enforcement against illegal nets and destructive fishing practices.
Patharghata Upazila Fisheries Officer Hasibul Haque said the fishing ban would remain in force from Oct 8 to Oct 29 to protect brood hilsa.
He said all fishing-related activities would remain suspended during the period and ice factories had also been instructed to remain closed. Dredging activities would also remain suspended during the ban.
The fisheries officer said registered fishermen would receive government assistance and that the allocated rice had already arrived for distribution.
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