Illegal fishing nets threaten biodiversity at Chalan Beel

GURUDASPUR, NATORE, Sept 9:  The administration says drives are being conducted against banned fishing nets, but the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Illegal ‘Sonti’ nets are being openly installed in rivers and important water-entry and flow channels of Chalan Beel in Gurudaspur Upazila of Natore. Fish fry and mature fish capable of breeding are being caught indiscriminately, while the nets are also obstructing the natural flow of water.

The practice is threatening aquatic biodiversity and raising concerns about agriculture in the vast Chalan Beel area.
During a recent visit to the area, sonti nets were found installed at the far end of the Hardama waterbody, along a channel through which water enters Chalan Beel. Similar scenes were observed near Sabgari Bazar on the Atrai River and at Samader Ghat in Gyandanagar.

The open use of banned nets at these three important locations has raised questions about the effectiveness of administrative monitoring.

Locals alleged that although drives are conducted from time to time, the use of sonti nets has not stopped. New nets are removed before drives begin, while old nets are seized and burned. However, within hours of a drive ending, new nets are reportedly installed again in the same areas.

They questioned how the same locations can repeatedly become sites for installing banned nets if the drives are effective.

There are laws to control the use of fishing nets that are harmful to fish conservation. Locals, however, said merely seizing and destroying nets would not solve the problem. The owners and users of the nets should be identified and brought under the law, while regular monitoring should be ensured after the drives.

The damage caused by sonti nets is not limited to fish.

Local farmers said installing nets along water-flow channels obstructs the natural current. As a result, if water cannot recede quickly after the monsoon, agricultural production could be disrupted.

If nets continue to be installed along important channels through which water enters and exits Chalan Beel, the impact could extend to large areas of farmland surrounding the wetland.

Ratan Saha, Senior Fisheries Officer of the upazila, said regular drives were being conducted against banned fishing nets.
“The drives will continue in the future,” he said.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahmida Afroze said the administration was conducting drives and taking legal action against the use of banned fishing nets.

However, the administration's claims do not appear to match the situation on the ground. Despite claims of drives and legal action, sonti nets were found being used openly at the far end of Hardama waterbody, Sabgari Bazar on the Atrai River and Samader Ghat in Gyandanagar.

Locals demanded that authorities not only seize the nets but also identify those involved and bring them under the law. They also called for stronger post-drive monitoring.

Otherwise, if the use of illegal sonti nets continues unchecked, the fisheries resources and aquatic biodiversity of Gurudaspur's rivers and wetlands could face serious threats, along with the agriculture-based livelihoods of people living around Chalan Beel.