The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa across Bangladesh to ensure safe spawning of the country’s national fish during its peak breeding season.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on September 24, the restriction took effect from Friday midnight and will remain in force until October 25.

In Patuakhali, one of the key hilsa-producing districts, about 75,043 of 80,020 registered fishermen will receive 25 kilograms of rice each as government assistance during the fishing suspension, officials said.

District fisheries officer Md Kamrul Islam said multiple measures have been taken to enforce the ban, including awareness campaigns, leaflet and poster distribution, and loudspeaker announcements across markets, riversides, and coastal villages. 

Fishermen have been instructed to keep their trawlers and nets away from rivers and estuaries throughout the period, he added.

Ahead of the ban, hilsa trading surged in several coastal markets, particularly in Lakshmipur, as buyers rushed to purchase fish before the shutdown. 

Prices spiked slightly due to high demand and limited supply.

At the Dakshin Temuhani hilsa market in Lakshmipur city, a large crowd of buyers was seen around midnight on Friday. Sellers displayed their final stocks, and despite the late hour, prices were higher than usual.

A market visit revealed a lower presence of large-sized hilsa and an abundance of smaller “jatka” fish. Large hilsa were selling for Tk 2,500–2,700 per kilogram, while medium-sized ones fetched Tk 800–1,000, and smaller fish weighing around 200 grams sold for Tk 600–650 per kilogram.

One buyer, Abdullah Al Hadi, said he found prices “too high to afford” even for smaller hilsa. 

A trader, Arif Hossain, explained that demand had soared on the final night before the ban. “Fishing will be closed for 22 days, so buyers rushed to the market. Moreover, this season’s catch was poor, which pushed prices up,” he said.

SMS/