Hilsa deserves global spotlight, not artificial breeding: Fisheries Adviser

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar has underscored the need for international promotion of Hilsa, referring to the iconic fish as a “global treasure” and reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to preserving its natural breeding cycle rather than resorting to artificial methods.

Speaking at a workshop titled "Assessment of Breeding Success in Hilsa Resource Management, Jatka Conservation, and Future Directions" held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium on Saturday, she said, “Hilsa is a global treasure, and it is available in Bangladesh. If we can manage Hilsa properly, we can introduce it to the world. Therefore, we must promote Hilsa internationally.”

The event, organised by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) as part of Jatka Conservation Week 2025, brought together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders from the fisheries sector.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s leading position among the 11 Hilsa-producing countries, the adviser emphasized the importance of effective management to sustain this top rank. She also expressed concern over proposals to artificially breed Hilsa, arguing that such methods have not yielded significant success in other areas, such as livestock.

“We are not considering artificial breeding for Hilsa at this time. It is a naturally occurring species, and its natural reproduction should be preserved,” she said. “We’ve seen limited benefits from artificial methods in our livestock sector—we must learn from that.”

Farida Akhtar also raised concerns about the impacts of climate change on Hilsa spawning, particularly due to changes in salinity levels and rainfall patterns. “Researchers must investigate how to adapt our conservation efforts to a changing climate,” she urged.

The adviser noted the importance of price stability once Hilsa returns to the market after June, saying it would benefit both consumers and fishermen.

BFRI Director General Dr Anuradha Bhadra chaired the session, while Fisheries Secretary (in current charge) Md Tofazzel Hossain joined as the special guest. The event was also attended by senior ministry officials, university faculty, BFRI researchers, and representatives of the fishing community.