The Bangladesh government has deployed military ships and patrol helicopters to protect the national fish species, hilsa, from illegal fishing. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to information provided by the defense forces, hilsa migrates from the Bay of Bengal to rivers every year during its spawning season. For this reason, officials have imposed a three-week fishing ban from October 4 to October 25.
During this period, 17 military ships and patrol aircraft are conducting constant surveillance. Hilsa is not only a favorite dish among the people of Bangladesh but also serves as a primary source of income for millions.
According to market prices in Dhaka, one kilogram of this fish sells for approximately 2200 taka, which is about 18.4 dollars. Experts emphasize that climate change and rising sea levels are negatively affecting the fish population.
Abdul Wahab, a specialist from the WorldFish organization, believes that using drones would be more effective for monitoring than military ships. During the ban period, the government distributed 25 kilograms of rice to each fishing family, but fishermen consider this aid insufficient.
As fisherman Sattar Majhi pointed out, "These three weeks are a difficult time for us because there is no other income." Thus, fishermen are facing significant financial hardships due to the ban. The measures taken by the government aim to protect the fishing industry and preserve national wealth.
