SIRAJGANJ, Nov 5: The production of hilsa is increasing every year.
According to sources at the Fisheries Department, the total production was 64 MT in 2013-14 while it has increased to 87 MT in 2018-19. The total production of hilsa is likely to reach 125 MT this year.
Few days back, fishermen have started catching hilsa from the Jamuna River in the district after the end of 22-day government ban.
To save mother hilsa, the government imposed a ban on catching fish from October 9 to 30 this year. After end of the ban, hilsa netting in various areas including about 85 km area from Khasrajbari to Chouhali and Kazipur upazilas and 35 km area from Bridashuria of Dakkhin Chouhali to Bangabandhu Bridge, have been noticed recently.
During the ban period, concerned department and district administration conducted a total of 169 drives, jailed 266 fishermen, and seized about 21.07 lakh metres of current net and 1,538 kg of hilsa.
Local sources said hilsa is being caught most in Kazipur, Sadar, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur and Chouhali upazilas of the district. Of those, a huge number of hilsa is found in Barbala, Chandpur, Boyalkandi, Sthalchar, Chaluhara, Mistrigati, Umarpur, Ghorjan and Baghutia areas under Sadiachandpur Union in Chouhali Upazila.
A total of 87 metric tonnes of hilsa were caught in the district last year. Meanwhile, Fisheries Department hoped to net about 125 MT of hilsa in the district this year.
The sources at the department said, out of about 15,000 fishermen in the district, 5,895 fishermen are directly involved in catching hilsa.
Fishermen Santesh Ali of Chandpur Char and Azizul Haque of Brahmangram said they have started catching hilsa after a long stop, and are getting two to four hilsas in each throw of net. The quantity will increase after some days, they added.
Chouhali Upazila Fisheries Officer Ataur Rahman said the amount of hilsa increased a lot in the river due to the 22-day ban. Hopefully, the volume will surpass the previous year's production.
District Fisheries Officer Md Shahed Ali said the production of hilsa will increase a lot if awareness is raised among the fishermen.
