‘Hilsa conservation vital for economy, livelihood’

  
 
RAJBARI, June 8: A district-level seminar on hilsa resource development and management was held in Rajbari on Monday under a government project aimed at conserving and sustainably managing the country's prized fish species.

The seminar was organised by the District Fisheries Department at the Rajbari Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium, with District Fisheries Officer Md Mahbubul Haque presiding over the event.

Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Afroza Parvin attended the programme as the chief guest. Special guests included Rajbari Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nirupama Roy, Senior Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department Palash Halder, Rajbari Press Club President Abdul Quddus Babu, Kaler Kantho district correspondent Md Jahangir Hossain and Pachuria Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman Ratan, among others.

Addressing the seminar, the deputy commissioner said hilsa is one of the most delicious and economically important fish species in Bangladesh, contributing around one percent to the country's national income. She noted that nearly 700,000 people are directly involved in the hilsa sector.

She said hilsa production has declined for various reasons, but continued efforts to conserve the species and ensure sustainable management could help increase production. Calling for greater public participation, she urged all stakeholders to unite in protecting jatka, the juvenile hilsa.

Other speakers described hilsa as a national heritage and a vital economic resource for Bangladesh. They stressed that conserving hilsa stocks, enhancing breeding opportunities and ensuring sustainable development would require coordinated efforts from all sectors of society.

According to information presented at the seminar, Rajbari district has 14,102 registered fishers. Speakers also said that around 3 million metres of illegal fishing nets had recently been seized and destroyed in the district as part of efforts to protect fisheries resources.

More than 130 participants from different professions attended the seminar, including journalists, representatives of fishing communities and officials from the Fisheries Department.