Bangladesh fisheries officials and Coast Guard seized seven tonnes of juvenile hilsa from a Chandpur-bound launch, underscoring stricter enforcement of jatka bans to protect livelihoods, ecosystems, and sustainability.
Bangladesh’s Department of Fisheries, in a joint operation with the Coast Guard, has seized around seven tonnes of illegally caught juvenile hilsa, locally known as jatka, from a passenger launch in Chandpur, highlighting intensified enforcement to protect the country’s most iconic fish.
Hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, is vital to regional food security, riverine ecosystems, and the livelihoods of millions across the Bay of Bengal basin. Protecting juvenile hilsa is considered crucial not only for national economic stability but also for maintaining ecological balance in a climate-vulnerable delta.
The seizure took place on Tuesday night during a targeted operation in the Meghna River estuary under Chandpur Sadar upazila, following a tip-off. The Dhaka-bound passenger launch MV Karnaphuli-15, which had departed from Barishal, was intercepted between the evening and 11:00pm.
According to the Chandpur Sadar Upazila Fisheries Office, around 30 drums filled with jatka were recovered from the vessel. The total volume of seized fish was estimated at approximately 7,000 kilograms. The confiscated catch was transported to the Coast Guard station in Chandpur around midnight.
Senior Fisheries Officer of Chandpur Sadar upazila Mirza Omar Faruk said no arrests were made as no one on board claimed ownership of the illegal fish during the raid.
Under Bangladesh’s fisheries conservation laws, catching, transporting, or selling jatka is strictly prohibited during designated ban periods, with violators facing fines and imprisonment. The ban is aimed at allowing juvenile hilsa to mature and reproduce, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the species.
In line with government regulations, the seized jatka were distributed on Wednesday morning among madrasas, orphanages, child welfare institutions, people with disabilities and underprivileged communities in Chandpur.
Authorities said such joint operations will continue as part of broader efforts to curb illegal fishing, strengthen conservation enforcement and safeguard fisheries resources for future generations.
