Rough seas, poor catches compound woes for coastal fishers

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, July 7: Hundreds of fishing trawlers have returned to safe shelter at around 20 fish landing stations in Char Fasson after rough weather and a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal prompted authorities to advise fishers against venturing into the sea.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked maritime ports to keep Local Cautionary Signal No. 4 hoisted as rough seas continue.

A visit to the Samraj Fish Landing Centre on Tuesday found hundreds of fishing trawlers anchored in rows instead of heading to sea. Usually bustling during the hilsa season, the landing centre now has little or no fish being unloaded, leaving traders and dock workers without work.

Fishers said they had resumed fishing with high hopes after the government's 58-day fishing ban ended on June 11. However, poor catches of hilsa and other fish had already caused heavy financial losses. Many trawler owners borrowed money to return to sea but were forced back within two or three days because of deteriorating weather conditions.

The president of the Samraj Trawler Owners' Association said many owners suffered losses during two consecutive fishing trips after the ban. Those who borrowed to continue fishing were again forced to return because of rough seas, while the latest weather warning has deepened uncertainty.

Nur Hossain, skipper of the fishing trawler FB Kakoli, said remaining at sea had become too dangerous due to high waves, forcing them to seek shelter at Samraj.

Hossain Majhi of Betua New Fish Landing Centre said many trawlers had already returned from the sea, although some deep-sea vessels were yet to arrive.

Another fisher, Mamun Majhi, who had travelled from Mehendiganj to fish in the Meghna estuary near Char Fasson , said they abandoned fishing because of the adverse weather and would return to sea once conditions improved.

Char Fasson  Fish Landing Owners' Association President Tarek Azzi said trawler owners had already been struggling with poor catches after the fishing ban, and the current weather had worsened the crisis.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Jayanta Kumar Apu said hundreds of trawlers and thousands of fishers were staying in safe shelters and had been instructed to remain ashore until the weather improves.

Meanwhile, the Char Fasson Upazila administration issued a public notice through social media urging all fishers, trawler owners, boat operators and ghat committees not to send any vessel to sea until further clearance is given by the Meteorological Department.