Md Srabon, Mongla
Like every year, this year too all types of fishing in the Sundarbans will be banned for 60 days from tomorrow (July 1) to August 30.
The forest department has taken this decision to protect and breed the fishery resources of the Sundarbans. Meanwhile, the decision to stop fishing without alternative employment has made the livelihood of fishermen uncertain.
According to the forest department and fishermen, there are more than 200 rivers and canals in the eastern Sundarbans, covering an area of 234,147 square kilometres.
Of these, 18 canals, including sanctuary areas, and canals less than 25 feet wide are prohibited for fishing throughout the year. All the canals are closed for two months in July and August for fish breeding.
Amid the corona situation, the fishermen said that if they stopped fishing for two months, their livelihood would become more difficult.
During the fishing season, during the new moon and full moon of each month, about two thousand fishermen make a living by catching fish. About 25,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in fishing.
Zahidul, Shahin, Arafat, Habib Hawlader and Jamal Hawlader of Jaymani in Mongla said, “We have been making a living by fishing in the Sundarbans for about thirty years.”
This year we have no other source of income except fishing due to corona. After that, if fishing is stopped for two more months, then how will we survive. “If the government gives us employment opportunities, we will stop fishing for two months,” they said.
Sharankhola Range Officer of the Sundarbans Joynal Abedin said July and August of each year is the fish breeding season. At this time all the common fish have eggs. Like every year, this year too, all types of fishing in the Sundarbans will be closed for 60 days from July 1 to August 30.
The decision was taken in 2019 in line with the recommendations of the Integrated Resources Management Plans (IRMP) to protect fishery resources in the Sundarbans.
East Sundarbans Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Belayet Hossain said, the same decision will be implemented this year as every year to protect the fishery resources. However, the issue of fishermen’s livelihood will be brought to the notice of higher authorities amid the corona crisis.
