Tarash Correspondent
The lower reaches of the Chalanbeel area have been inundated by rainwater from upstream. The water of the river and canal is mixed in the water of the beel. At this time the mother fish comes to Chalanbeel to lay eggs. However, fishermen have taken this opportunity to use this situation to catch fish and juvenile fishes from this waterbody.
They are catching fish filled with eggs with various fishing equipments including fishing rods, reed nets, current nets and locally produced nets. And even though these mother fish are sold openly, the local administration is not taking any action to preserve the fish population.
According to a source in the Fisheries Department, the egg-laying season is usually from April to August. During this time each fish lays eggs individually. Especially after laying eggs, the fry float in flocks. Many fish species come in shallow water to lay eggs and the male fish helps to secrete eggs. That is why fishing is completely banned during these five months.
But in reality there is no reflection of it anywhere in the nine upazilas surrounding Chalanbeel. Instead, these egg-laying fish are being sold openly. People from all walks of life, including people from the administration, are buying these.
Zahurul Islam, a school teacher from Hamkuria village in Tarash upazila, said that people of the area go to the canal of Chalanbeel every day in groups to catch big fishes. Each fish weighs 4 kg to 10 kg.
Abdul Malek, a fisherman from Hamkuria village, said he caught a 10kg fish on Tuesday.
Later in the village he sold the fish at seven hundred Tk per kg. He caught the fish in the canal of Chalanbeel in the bridge area No. 8 of Hatikumurul-Bonpara highway.
In this context, Tarash Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Mashgul Azad said, the operation against the killing of egg-laying fish is going on.
Fence netting, current netting has been banned. Miking will be done in public awareness from tomorrow. Besides, legal action will be taken by conducting mobile court.
