BMU mobilises citizen network to protect brood hilsa as production declines

Bangladesh Maritime University (BMU) has launched a citizen-led initiative to support enforcement of the government’s 22-day ban on hilsa fishing, as national hilsa production has declined for the second consecutive year.

The nationwide fishing ban will remain in effect from October 8 to 29 during the peak spawning season of hilsa.


They attributed the decline to overfishing, the use of illegal and fine-mesh nets, catching brood hilsa and jatka, bottom trawling, river pollution, siltation and climate change.

Representatives of the Jatiya Matshyajibi Samity and the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) said illegal fishing continues during the ban through networks involving different groups.

They also described confrontations between poachers and enforcement teams in Padma sanctuary areas, including Zajira, Shureshwar and Char Bhairabi.

Former Coast Guard zonal commanders serving as BMU’s treasurer and director of the Institute of Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh Studies shared their experience of previous brood hilsa conservation operations.

Participants praised the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy for their role in protecting hilsa and called for stronger surveillance during the upcoming ban.

Rear Admiral Elahee called for coordinated action involving government agencies, universities, researchers, fishing communities, law enforcement agencies and NGOs.

Expressing concern over the recent arrival of hilsa in Bangladesh from Gujarat, India, he said the country should meet domestic demand by conserving its own hilsa stocks.


The meeting agreed to establish a coordination cell at BMU, with focal persons from participating organisations.

It also decided to seek a joint meeting involving BMU, the Navy and Coast Guard with the director general of the Department of Fisheries on October 8 or 9.

During the ban, participating organisations will conduct awareness campaigns at fish landing centres, operate a community informant network, organise a mass gathering at a hilsa landing centre in Barishal and monitor the distribution of government food assistance to fishing communities.

Participants also proposed a national seminar, a ministerial-level Hilsa Think Tank and joint research on hilsa populations, breeding grounds and river pollution.

The Krishi Gobeshona Foundation indicated that it could provide funding for potential research initiatives.

Representatives of NGOs and the Jatiya Matshyajibi Samity pledged to cooperate with the government in enforcing the fishing ban.

The consultation was attended by representatives of BMU, Jahangirnagar University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, SAARC Agriculture Centre, Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, CNRS, COAST Foundation, Shushilan and the Jatiya Matshyajibi Samity, among others.