Bangladesh Fishermen Return to Sea After Hilsa Fishing Ban Ends

Kamal Chowdhury, Bhola – More than 500,000 fishermen have returned to rivers and coastal waters across Bangladesh following the end of the government’s 22-day ban on catching mother hilsa, raising hopes of a productive fishing season. The restriction, imposed from October 8 to protect spawning hilsa, officially ended at midnight on Thursday, October 29. Fishermen began heading out to sea and rivers shortly afterward, carrying repaired nets, boats, trawlers, ice and other necessary equipment.

After weeks of waiting, fishermen across the coastal districts are hoping for a substantial catch to repay outstanding debts and improve their livelihoods. According to Kamrul Hasan, Director of the Department of Fisheries for the Barishal Division, the six coastal districts in the division have a total of 425,009 registered fishermen. Of them, 146,029 are registered as sea-going fishermen. Officials estimate that more than 100,000 additional fishermen are unregistered. Taking both registered and unregistered fishermen into account, more than 500,000 fishermen are expected to participate in hilsa fishing following the lifting of the ban.

A visit to Shamraj Fish Landing Centre in Char Fasson, one of Bhola’s largest fishing hubs, revealed a busy scene as fishermen returned with their overnight catches. Fishing markets and wholesale depots, which had remained largely inactive during the 22-day restriction, became lively again as fresh hilsa arrived from nearby rivers. Mohammad Tarek Aziz Patwary, president of the local fish traders’ association, said fishermen were getting encouraging responses from the river.

However, he noted that many of the fish still contained eggs. He said the fishing ban could have been more effective in protecting spawning hilsa if it had begun around the middle of October. Local fishermen Shahabuddin Majhi, Rakibul Islam, Main Uddin Majhi and Bashir Majhi said they had spread their nets throughout the night after the ban ended and caught a satisfactory quantity of hilsa. However, they also observed that many of the fish still had eggs.

Bhola District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Delwar Hossain said Friday morning that strict enforcement of the 22-day restriction had provided mother hilsa with an opportunity to spawn safely. He expressed hope that the measure would contribute to increased hilsa production and that fishermen would find sufficient fish following the reopening of fishing activities. Bhola has 168,370 registered fishermen across its seven upazilas, he said.

Last year, Bhola recorded a hilsa catch of approximately 179,300 metric tonnes. The district fisheries department expects production to increase further this year. During the fishing ban, fisheries officials and law enforcement agencies conducted 297 operations in Bhola. Authorities sentenced 80 people to imprisonment and imposed fines totalling approximately Tk 450,000. They also seized around 2.63 metric tonnes of hilsa and approximately 99.2 million metres of fishing nets.

In Barguna, thousands of fishermen also returned to the sea after completing preparations for the new fishing season. Fishermen from Amtali, Patharghata, Taltali and Barguna Sadar headed out with nets, trawlers, ice and other equipment. Local fish traders and fishermen reported encouraging hilsa catches in nearby rivers, creating an atmosphere of excitement across fishing communities.

Barguna District Fisheries Officer Zia Uddin said proposals had been submitted to higher authorities to increase rice assistance and provide additional support to fishermen. Of the district’s 52,476 registered fishermen, 39,469 received government assistance during the ban. In neighbouring Lakshmipur, approximately 54,000 fishermen have resumed fishing in the Meghna River, according to local fisheries officials.

District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Jasim Uddin said this year’s conservation campaign had been successful and expressed hope that hilsa production would increase compared with last year. During the first 20 days of the restriction, authorities conducted 229 operations and mobile court drives in the district. A total of 150 fishermen were detained. Of them, 73 received various prison sentences, while 77 were fined a combined Tk 1.95 million.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the government’s Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme provided 25 kilograms of rice to each of 647,690 registered fishing households across 38 districts during the restriction. The district administrations, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries jointly enforced the fishing ban. Additional vessels and logistical support were deployed in key areas to strengthen surveillance and ensure compliance.

The annual 22-day fishing restriction during the peak hilsa spawning season was introduced in October 2011. Earlier, a programme to protect juvenile hilsa, locally known as jatka, began in 2003–04. Fisheries researchers say protecting mother hilsa during spawning allows them to lay eggs, which hatch into juvenile fish and eventually grow into mature hilsa. This natural reproductive cycle plays a vital role in sustaining the country’s hilsa population.

During the peak spawning period, mother hilsa migrate from the sea towards freshwater rivers, particularly the Padma and Meghna, to lay eggs. The government generally imposes the annual restriction from October 8 for 22 days, prohibiting fishing, transportation, storage, buying and selling of hilsa and other fish in designated areas across 38 districts. Key spawning grounds include Dhalchar and Manpura in Bhola, Moulavir Char in Noakhali, Kalir Char near Sandwip and the river confluence areas of Chandpur.

A major sanctuary extending approximately 100 kilometres along the Meghna River, from Chandpur to Char Alexander in Lakshmipur, has been designated to protect spawning hilsa. Despite conservation efforts, declining river water levels, water pollution and the continued catching of mother hilsa and undersized fish remain major challenges to sustaining production.

With the fishing ban now lifted, coastal communities are looking forward to a productive season. Fisheries officials and fishermen alike hope that stronger conservation measures will help increase hilsa production and improve the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families.