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Random fry netting in Bay poses threat to fish stock

Sohrab Hossain, Patuakhali
A section of fishermen have continued netting fry in different rivers and canals in the district as well as the adjoining Bay, posing threat to different species of fishes.
The callous people use long pieces of current nets and special type of net locally called go raj al tied with bamboo or wood sticks to catch young fishes that come to the shore during the high tide.
During a visit to Gongamoti area about seven km to the east of Kuakata Zero Point a couple of days ago, this correspondent saw a group of fishermen catching young fishes with different nets.
Such catchers usually separate shrimp fry to sell for good prices while the fry of other species are often left on the earth or sold for a nominalTk30 to 50 per kg.
"At least 50 species of young fishes including poya, falisha, taposi, gagra, chapila get trapped in current nets although fishermen mainly collect shrimp fry. Random netting of fry poses serious threat to the fish stock belonging to different species," said Abul Kalam, a local fisherman.
A section of fish traders and cultivators from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts come to buy shrimp fry from Patuakhali and its adjoining areas and carry it by trawlers or trucks, said Md Shahjahan Akon, a resident of west Kuakata area.
A team of DB police seized around 50,000 shrimp fry and arrested 17 people from Labukhali ferry terminal on Patuakhali-Barisal road on June 3 when they were carrying the item to Khulna from Galachipa upazila under Patuakhali district by trucks.
Earlier on May 30, a team of the coastguard seized
around 40 lakh shrimp fry from two trawlers on the Boleshwar River. The trawlers were heading towards Khulna from Pathorghata in Barguna district.
Later all the seized shrimp fry was freed into the river, said Abdul Kuddus, upazila fisheries officer of Pathorghata.
Lt. Arif, station commander for the coastguard in Pathorghata, said they are trying best to check the catching and carrying of shrimp by a section of local fishermen.
Md Sha riful Haque Akond, fisheries officer of Kal a para upazila in Patuakhali, said, "In spite of manpower crisis we conduct drives at different spots to seize shrimp fry and arrest fishermen and traders involved in the business."
"We will take lawful step against the fishermen involved in fry catching as the act is very harmful for fish stock," said Patuakhali Divisional Fisheries Officer Iqbal Hossain.