Hilsa shortage hits coastal fishers despite peak season

AMTALI, BARGUNA, Sept 21: Hilsa fishing is currently at its peak in Amtali and other coastal areas of Barguna, but fishermen are struggling to find the prized fish in the region’s rivers.

Fishermen say they are failing to catch enough hilsa despite casting their nets in the sea and rivers, with many unable even to recover the costs of boat fuel and food. Burdened with loans and advance payments taken from fish traders, many are now struggling to make ends meet.

The crisis has become more acute as hilsa movement has declined around the confluences of the Payra, Bishkhali, Baleshwar and Andharmanik rivers.

Local fishermen blame declining navigability caused by siltation, submerged shoals, polythene and other waste. In some areas, they have also raised concerns about the possible impact of industrial and thermal power plant waste and hot water discharged into rivers.

Fishermen said that a few years ago, they could catch hilsa easily by casting nets in the rivers during the peak season. Now, they often spend hours fishing without getting the expected amount of fish.
As a result, many have reduced their fishing activities after incurring repeated losses.

Miraj, a fisherman on the Payra River, said hilsa move towards freshwater areas of rivers during their breeding season.

“But the reduced navigability at the river mouths is preventing the fish from entering the rivers. Unless the submerged shoals are removed and the rivers regain their depth, hilsa movement may decline further,” he said.

Another fisherman, Russel, said, “We do not go to the river anymore. There are hardly any fish.”

Fisherman Shamim Mia said, “We go to the river to catch fish but return without any. We are in great difficulty.”

According to the Barguna district fisheries office, a large number of fishermen catch hilsa in the Payra, Bishkhali, Baleshwar and Andharmanik rivers and adjoining coastal areas. However, a significant number of them are no longer going to the rivers regularly due to the recent decline in fish availability.

According to the Department of Fisheries, submerged shoals have been identified along about 15 kilometres of the Payra River, 6.8 kilometres at the mouth of the Bishkhali, 11.42 kilometres of the Baleshwar and 12 kilometres of the Andharmanik.

Barguna District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Ziauddin said normal river navigability and a healthy aquatic environment are crucial for hilsa movement and breeding.

“Sedimentation has reduced the depth of the rivers, creating obstacles to the natural movement of fish. Restoring navigability, stopping illegal fishing nets and taking effective measures to control pollution are necessary,” he said.

The issue has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities and proposals have been made for necessary initiatives, he added.

Fishermen said increasing hilsa production would require more than imposing fishing bans and conducting drives.

They demanded coordinated measures to restore river navigability, control pollution and illegal fishing nets, and protect hilsa breeding and movement grounds.