Widespread use of illegal fishing nets with mesh sizes far smaller than the permissible limit is leading to the rampant killing of juvenile fish, including ilish, in the Bishkhali, Baleshwar, and Payra rivers of Barguna. Despite regulations stipulating a minimum mesh size of 4.25 inches to protect fish fry, fishermen are reportedly using nets with mesh sizes as small as half an inch to three-quarters of an inch. This indiscriminate fishing is resulting in the destruction of jatka, juvenile ilish and other small fish species, which are then openly sold in local markets, sometimes under the guise of "chapila" fish, and even processed into dried fish.
Local residents অভিযোগ (alleged) that the sale of these juvenile ilish and other undersized fish is occurring openly in haat-bazars (local markets) across the municipal area and various villages, seemingly under the nose of the administration. Furthermore, these illegally caught ilish fry are also being dried and sold, despite both their capture and sale being strictly prohibited under fisheries law.
Fishermen in Patharghata Sadar Upazila revealed that approximately 300 boats in their union are engaged in net fishing. These nets are currently catching a significant number of ilish fry along with other fish species, which are then supplied to local markets and dried fish processing areas.
On-site observations confirm that the daily scale of juvenile fish being caught in these illegal nets, including ilish, poses a severe threat to ilish harvesting in the upcoming season. The unrestricted use of small-meshed nets in the rivers is disrupting the natural breeding, propagation, and growth of fish populations. According to fisheries law, using nets with a mesh size smaller than 4.25 inches for fish fry conservation is a punishable offense. However, fishermen in these rivers are flouting the law by using nets with mesh sizes ranging from less than half an inch to just under an inch to catch small fish.
Zakir Hossain, a resident of Ruhita village in Patharghata Sadar Upazila, stated, "By managing the administration, fish fry are being caught daily right in front of our eyes using various illegal nets including fixed nets, seine nets, behundi nets, and current nets." Speaking with fishermen from the same union, it was learned that "more than three hundred boats catch fish using drift nets. These nets catch a lot of small fish including jatka, poa, taposhi, and tengra, which are sold in various local markets. And the fish that are not suitable for selling in the market are dried and sold in the processing areas."
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of the Barguna District Fishermen's Trawler Owners Association, expressed concern, stating, "If juvenile fish are hunted with illegal nets in this way, the ilish population will be destroyed. The rivers will have water, but there will be no fish."
When asked about measures to prevent the catching of juvenile fish, Md. Mohsin, the District Fisheries Officer, said, "We have conducted more than 50 drives from last month until now. Since there are three rivers in the district and our manpower is limited, it is often not possible for us to reach all areas. Taking this opportunity, dishonest fishermen are catching ilish fry and secretly selling them as 'chapila'. We have intensified patrolling in the rivers."
The catching and selling of ilish fry (jatka) in the Bishkhali, Baleshwar, and Payra rivers of Barguna district is a concerning issue. The use of prohibited nets to catch these juvenile fish, which are then sold as "chapila" in the market, poses a significant threat to the breeding and production of ilish in the region.
