The target of Hilsa production in the current fiscal year in the country is likely to be 6 million tons. In the financial year 2021-22, 5 lakh 65 thousand tons of Hilsa have been produced, according to the fisheries department. Every year there was a ban on catching jatka from the country's rivers and fish conservation program in October.
Dr. Anisur Rahman, the former chief scientific officer of Chandpur River Center and the country's best Hilsa researcher, said, 'The Hilsa production target for the entire country this year was 5.65 thousand tons, which was 5.65 thousand tons, and he is optimistic about the possibility of producing 6 million tons this year.
In response to the question of how it is possible, Dr Anisur Rahman said that it is possible because of the method by which the jatka protection program and the mother hilsa protection program are being carried out.
Also, since 2016-17, the researchers of the Fisheries Department have been very skillfully testing that every year from 20th May to 23rd July, when the Hilsa comes out of the fresh water and enters the sea, they grow up there for 65 days. As a result, they are optimistic that Hilsa production will increase day by day.
In order to ensure the safe breeding of Hilsa, the government's fisheries department has announced a ban on Hilsa harvesting, transportation, buying and selling, stocking and exchange for 22 days from October 7-28, 2022-2023.
A meeting of the National Task Force Committee on the Development of Hilsa Resources has been held with the aim of determining the timing of Hilsa extraction during the main breeding season and implementing the mother Hilsa conservation campaign 2022.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sh M Rezaul Karim presided over the meeting. In the president's speech, the minister said, "All those who come to fish during the prohibition period are not fishermen. Behind them are many rich people, powerful people. As in the past, these dishonest people will not be exempted to protect Hilsa resources. Strict action will be taken against miscreants who destroy Hilsa resources. In addition to the operation during the day, the operation will be strengthened at night as well.
The local administration will take measures to stop ice mills in the concerned district and upazila. Like last year, this year too, operations will be conducted at illegal fake production sites. Actions will be taken to prevent illegal Hilsa trafficking. The local administration will take measures to stop dredging in the river in the district and upazila related to Hilsa. All that needs to be done to develop Hilsa resources through safe breeding of Hilsa.
To increase the production of Hilsa, the government has announced a 22-day Hilsa breeding season in all breeders of the country.
During this period, catching, extraction, sale and marketing of Hilsa will be stopped. VGF rice has been allocated to fishermen in the current financial year under the government's humanitarian food aid program during the breeding season of Hilsa.
Incidentally, under this support program, this allocation has been provided before the start of the main breeding season of Hilsa at the rate of 40 kg for 550,000 fishermen families who refrained from Hilsa harvesting in 152 upazilas of 36 districts. In this season, compared to the last season, an additional 1 lakh 20 thousand 263 fisher families will be given this food assistance.
Recently, in the increase of Hilsa production, the production of Hilsa is increasing if the production of Hilsa and jatka with eggs is stopped, creating opportunities for free breeding and roaming of fish and maintaining sustainable production. This time, the production of Hilsa is increasing due to the increase in river water, preservation of jatka, and stopping of mother Hilsa extraction.
The sanctuary will play an important role in making the rivers of Barisal region more prosperous with Hilsa. Even due to geographical location, the area of 82 km is eligible to be declared as sanctuary. In this context, the region is authorized to declare and establish the 6th Abhayashram.
A shelter is a silver Hilsa production factory. All that is needed is consistent implementation. Only then will the trend of Hilsa resource development and sustainable production in the waters of Bangladesh continue and be rich in biodiversity.