A fisheries office raid in Shyamnagar highlights ongoing efforts to curb banned nets that threaten indigenous fish breeding grounds and aquatic biodiversity.
Authorities in Bangladesh’s Satkhira district have seized five banned “China Duari” fishing nets and 12 “Bulu” nets during a raid on the Antakhali Canal in Shyamnagar Upazila and later burned the confiscated nets in public.
The operation was carried out at 5pm on Thursday, September 3, by officials and staff from the Shyamnagar Upazila Fisheries Office in the Antakhali Canal area of Ramjannagar Union. The canal was excavated by the NGO CNRS, and the drive was conducted with assistance from the Ramjannagar Union Parishad.
The operation was led by Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Touhid Hasan, with Field Assistant Mujibur Rahman of the Upazila Fisheries Office taking part in the removal and recovery of the nets. Members of the Ramjannagar Union Parishad, village police and local residents also assisted during the drive.
The seized nets were destroyed by burning them publicly in the Antakhali area to support environmental protection and the conservation of indigenous fish breeding grounds.
Md. Tauhid Hasan, the Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer of Shyamnagar, said that “China Duari” nets and “Bulu” nets are strictly prohibited.
“The use of such nets severely harms the breeding of indigenous fish and aquatic biodiversity,” he said, adding that regular drives against the banned nets would continue across all areas of Shyamnagar.
Local residents said the unrestricted use of “China Duari” nets by some individuals in local canals, rivers and open water bodies had long threatened fish of all sizes, including fry, as well as other aquatic life.
They said drives conducted by the Upazila Fisheries Office would play an important role in conserving fishery resources.
