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Sweet water fish disappearing
GOPALGANJ. Mar 22 : Once fish was a common item on the menu of many lower middleclass families, now few of them can afford it.
These days sweet water fish are rarely seen in local markets — if found, their prices are skyrocketing, reports UNB.
The blame for extinction of these fish goes to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and catching of fry and eggbearing fish.
Sweet water fish breed during Ashar-Ashwin (June-Oct) and catching of fry of some particular varieties like ruhi, katla. kalbaus. mrigel and gha-nia during July-December is .strictly prohibited as per the country's existing law. But villagers care little about it.
While visiting some areas of
the district, this correspondent found over 1000 fry-catching traps in Madhumati. Bhairab. Kumar and Bakswar rivers. Chander Beel and Barn! Banar and its adjacent areas.
But of them, only 20 traps were laid with government permission.
Alamgir Hossain, a resident of Band Banar in Tungipara. said there were at least 25 traps in the Barni Banar area, stretching over 10 km area, and 16 of them had no permission.
There were 50 traps stretching over 15 km area of the Madhumati river too.
Alamgir said fish eggs and fry caught from the river are sold in a wholesale centre run by an Influential quarter. A section of dishonest officials of
Fisheries Department are also Involved with them.
Kali Sheikh, a fish trader of Mulassiri in Narail district who has licence for catching fry. said fish traders from across the country come to them to buy fry. which is now selling at Tk 45 per kg against Tk 20 last year.
A member of Kushli union alleged that the Fisheries Department hardly takes action against the fishermen who catch fry with "current nets", defying the government ban.
According to the department. there were once over 180 varieties of sweet water fish in the country and of them 60 have already disappeared.
Experts emphasised the importance of massive campaign
to raise public awareness about the ill effects of indiscriminate catching of fry.
Another report adds : Indiscriminate catching of fish fry from water bodies by a section of people has started taking Its toll on fish output in the district.
To boost fish production. Fisheries Department under a special programme releases different varieties of fish fry in rivers, beels, baors. canals and other water bodies of the district.
But some unscrupulous people catch fish fry by 'current nets' defying government ban.
Fishermen and fish traders are openly selling fish fry in local markets as the law enforcers hardly take action against them.