65-day ban on sea fishing begins Wednesday

The government is going to impose a 65-day ban on fishing in the sea across the country from Wednesday aiming to preserve fish stock and ensure their proper breeding, reports news agency BSS.

The fisheries and livestock ministry has prohibited all kind of fishing in the Bay of Bengal from 20 May to 23 July, a ministry press release said.

To this end, the ministry has already issued a circular and sent it to Bangladesh Navy headquarters, public security division, the shipping ministry, the armed forces division, police headquarters, coast guard headquarters, the fisheries department and other agencies concerned.

The sanction has been imposed in accordance with the Marine Fisheries Ordinance-1883 (amended in 2015) to ensure smooth breeding of the sea fishes.

To enforce the ban, the Department of Fisheries Services has taken various measures, including airing special messages in radios and televisions, making the local fishermen aware of the ban, conducting drives on the sea and mobile courts in local markets, intensifying market monitoring and opening of a control room.

Fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim said his ministry wants to enforce the fishing ban effectively to ensure proper breeding of marine fishes, which would help increase marine fish stock.

He said the government has allocated 23,497 tonnes of food grains for about 420,000 coastal fishermen to help them cope with their crisis during the period of ban.