8-month fishing ban puts Char Fasson fishers in hardship

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Nov 6: Thousands of fishing families in Char Fasson Upazila of Bhola are facing food and livelihood crises as an eight-month government ban on catching jatka (juvenile hilsa) has begun, shortly after the end of the 22-day mother hilsa fishing ban.

The latest ban, which came into effect from Saturday midnight, prohibits catching, transporting, storing and selling hilsa smaller than 25cm until June 30.

However, the restrictions have sparked resentment among small-scale fishers, who allege that while authorities strictly monitor them in rivers and coastal areas, illegal artisanal trawlers equipped with modern technology continue to catch jatka and other small fish in the deep and shallow waters of the Bay of Bengal and its estuaries.

Mohammad Rahmat Ali, an elderly fisherman from Dulahat area of Char Fasson, alleged that small-scale fishers face fines and harassment whenever they cast nets, while powerful syndicates operate illegal trawlers freely.

"Whenever we cast nets in the river, the administration catches and fines us. But large syndicates use modern trawlers to catch thousands of jatka and other small fish day and night in the estuary. Everyone knows who protects these illegal boats.

If this discrimination continues, we will starve," he said.

Another marginal fisherman, Shamsuddin, said fishers were struggling to support their families as the eight-month ban began immediately after the 22-day restriction.

"We are worried about how we will feed our families. The government assistance we receive is not enough to run our households.

If the activities of large trawlers are not stopped, we may eventually lose our access to rivers and the sea altogether," he said.

A recent Coast Guard operation has also brought the issue of illegal trawling into focus. During a drive near Maya Bridge in Ahmedpur area of Char Fasson, the Coast Guard detained an illegal artisanal fibre trawler and 14 fishermen along with a large quantity of prohibited trawling equipment.

The seized equipment included four trawling nets, two wings, one derrick and two trawl doors.

Most of the detainees are residents of Lalmohan, Char Fasson and Dulahat areas. Legal proceedings against them are underway.

The Char Fasson Upazila fisheries officer said the government was firm on stopping jatka fishing and there was no scope to relax the eight-month ban.

He said the process of bringing marginal fishers under the government's Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme was underway.

The officer also said drives against illegal trawlers using modern technology to damage marine ecosystems would be intensified.

The Coast Guard, Navy and fisheries department would jointly strengthen surveillance in estuary areas to prevent illegal fishing, he added.

Meanwhile, local residents have called for adequate government rice allocations and alternative employment opportunities to help marginal fishing families cope with the prolonged fishing ban.