Indiscriminate fishing in the local water bodies of Moulvibazar is causing a sharp dent in production of the native fish resources.
Local fishermen are catching brood fish and fish fry in the haors and open water bodies of the district, lessening the possibility of the native fish population to increase.
Local administration in separate drives in different places of the district seized 420 kilograms of fish fry and fishing net in the last three weeks.
Witnesses and sources at the Fisheries Department said the fishermen are catching brood fish and fish fry from Hakaluki, Kauadighi and Hyle haors in the district.
A joint team of the officials of the local administration and Fisheries Department, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sadar Upazila M Ashraful Islam, conducted a drive in Boro Haor area of the upazila and seized 10 kgs of fry of different species like shoal, shing, magur, koi, puti and taki.
Hasan Miah, a trader of Moulvibazar municipality area, said he goes to Pudina Bazar under Kagabala union for the last few days for business purposes.
He found a huge quantity of fry ranging between two and three inches in size was put on sale at fish market in Pudina Bazar.
The existing law prohibits selling of the fishes of that size, he added.
Fakhrul Islam, a resident of Moulvibazar municipal area, said koi, puti and tengra fries are being sold in two markets of the municipality.
He said a mobile court in a drive led by UNO of Barlekha Upazila Syed M Aminur Rahman seized a banned fishing net from Dashghiri area near Hakaluki haor.
District Fisheries Department sources said about 420 kgs of fry were seized from Sadar, Kulaura and Juri upazilas through conducting drives.
Of the seized amount, 400 kgs of dead fry were destroyed while the rest 20 kgs released in water bodies, he said.
District fisheries officer (acting) M Ahsan Habib Khan said they were conducting drives in all haors and seizing banned nets, fry and brood fish.
He said they are conducting campaign to motivate fishermen to refrain from catching brood fish as well as fish fry.
Source: UNB Connect
