Fisheries Minister: 22-day ban on ilish fishing to begin on October 12

A 22-day government ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting ilish will come into effect from October 12 in a bid to save mother ilish during peak breeding season, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.

The ban will continue till November 2.

“Mother Ilish Conservation Campaign will be conducted at that time. The government will provide vulnerable group feeding (VGF) food assistance to the fishermen who will refrain from catching ilish during the period,” said the minister.

The minister said this at a meeting of the national task force committee on ilish resource development at the conference room of the Matsya Bhaban in the capital on Wednesday.

"Ilish is not only our national resource; it is a GI certified asset that carries our unique identity in the global arena. Ilish production has increased breaking all previous records,” the minister said.

The objective of the restrictions on fishing is to protect the mother ilish which lay eggs during the period.

Bangladesh’s over 12% fish production comes from ilish, posting the highest contribution to the country’s fish output as a single fish species.

Ilish, the national fish of Bangladesh, is recognized as a certified patented product of Bangladesh. The marine fish flies to rivers in Bangladesh to lay eggs. The fish is very popular both in Bangladesh and West Bengal. About 75% of the world's ilish is netted in Bangladesh.

Chandpur is regarded as one of Bangladesh's largest ilish trading hubs. The ilish from the Padma River, known for its superior taste, is more popular than those from other rivers.

Source: UNB