Mobile courts in Barishal division jailed 57 fishermen in a single day for fishing in rivers during the 22-day ban to protect brood hilsa.

They were arrested on various rivers in the division's six districts on Tuesday, 7 October, the fourth day of the ban, and were sentenced through 142 separate mobile courts.

Besides cash fines, 88 cases were filed across the division. In separate drives, 9 lakh 3 thousand 640 metres of net worth Tk 1 lakh 82 thousand 218 were seized. The fisheries department earned Tk 1 lakh 51 thousand by auctioning the seized nets. A total of 604 kg of hilsa was also seized.

That day 467 drives were carried out across the division and 142 mobile courts were held. Officials also inspected 198 fish landing centres, 810 fish ghats, 1,353 wholesale depots (arats) and 832 markets in Barishal division.

According to the fisheries department, it carried out 135 drives in rivers and elsewhere in Barishal district on Tuesday. Through 38 mobile courts, 34 fishermen were jailed for various terms and 46 cases were filed. The district's 55 landing centres, 221 fish ghats, 191 arats and 163 markets were inspected.

Jhalakathi district saw 34 drives. Through 22 mobile courts, 13 fishermen were jailed for various terms and 15 cases were filed. Seven landing centres, 25 fish ghats, 70 arats and 63 markets were inspected.

Patuakhali district saw 91 drives. Through 23 mobile courts, five fishermen were jailed for various terms and 10 cases were filed. Eight landing centres, 119 fish ghats, 317 arats and 116 markets were inspected.

Pirojpur district saw 60 drives. Its 29 mobile courts fined fishermen and released them. Fifty-four landing centres, 126 fish ghats, 202 arats and 176 markets were inspected.

Barguna district saw 63 drives. Through nine mobile courts, one fisherman was jailed and one case was filed. Twelve landing centres, 108 fish ghats, 238 arats and 149 markets were inspected.

Bhola district saw 82 drives. Through 21 mobile courts, four fishermen were jailed and 16 cases were filed. Sixty-two landing centres, 211 fish ghats, 335 arats and 135 markets were inspected.

Barishal district fisheries officer Ripon Kanti Ghosh said drives to protect brood hilsa are being run with a variety of tactics this year, and he urged everyone to work together to protect the fish.

The 22 days from 4 to 25 October are the hilsa breeding season. During this period the Barishal district administration, the district fisheries office, RAB, police and the Coast Guard are working to protect brood hilsa.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.