For the first time, drone cameras are being used to protect mother hilsa in Dashmina, Patuakhali. The upazila administration, fisheries office, river police outpost, Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard and police are running a joint drive.

To enforce the 22-day fishing ban, drones are patrolling the rivers alongside a five-layer security system. On the third day of the ban, the administration was seen flying drones at various points on the Tentulia and Buragauranga rivers.

According to local sources, drone surveillance covers about 8 km of river, including Banshbaria, Dhondhonia, Kedirhat, Hajirhat, Golkhali, Katakhali, Syed Jafar, Kalarani, Sobhan Bazar, Auliapur, Char Ghurni, Patar Char, South Rangopaldi, Char Hadi, Char Borhan and Shahjalal Juro, with 4 km under special watch. The drones are already discouraging illegal fishers from entering the river. In three days, the administration seized and destroyed 15 behundi nets and 10,000 metres of current nets.

Local fishermen Santu and Saidul said they saw something like a plane flying over the river and later learned it was a drone, calling the initiative praiseworthy. Fish trader Miraj of the Banshbaria launch ghat area said order has returned to the river and the drones flying morning, noon and afternoon are raising awareness.

Upazila fisheries officer M. M. Parvez said the authorities are taking a strict stance this year: several teams will be stationed in the Hajirhat area by day and drones will keep watch, so anyone violating the ban will be identified and dealt with at once. Dashmina Upazila Nirbahi Officer Irtiza Hasan said mother hilsa are a national resource; law enforcers will patrol the river at night, and by day drones will identify illegal fishers so they can be brought to book.

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