Native fish species face threat Indiscriminate use of banned fishing nets in different waterbodies, including rivers, under Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali district pose a serious risk to the native fish species and aquatic animals.
Locals said banned fishing net, locally called China Duari, is being used massively to catch fishes in the canals and rivers, threatening the native fish species, including the fish fries, in the upazila.
They said such a net is 20 to 40 feet long. Every few feet there are fish entrances. If a fish enters through this door, it cannot come out. Larger fishes, their fries and aquatic animals are all caught with such net. Although the net is officially prohibited, it is being used in all the canals, rivers and canals of the upazila.
Unscrupulous traders are selling such net freely in the hope of making more profit while people are using it massively. This has caused a crisis in the reproduction of native species of fish that are in danger of extinction.
Sources said fish are being caught in the upazila's canals, ditches and rivers using ‘China Duari’ net for several years. A net made of thick plastic costs Tk 2,000 to 3,000. These nets are available in net-yarn shops in small and big markets, including Kalaia, Kalishuri and Baga Bandar of the upazila. However, the main sales centre of this net is 'Kalaiya Bandar'. The net is sold wholesale and retail there. Although this net is banned, it is being sold openly due to lack of supervision by the administration.
Although fishes are caught with this net in almost all areas of the upazila, it is known that the use of this net is high in the char areas of Kalaiya, Chandradwip, Nazirpur, Dhulia and Keshabpur Union.
Md Mizanur Rahman, a school teacher of Kalaiya area in the upazila, "China Duari net is very destructive. Along with the fish, various species of aquatic animals and fish fries also die due to this net. Day by day, native species of fish and aquatic animals are disappearing.”
Md Rubel Sikder, a fish trader of municipal area, said, “Once there was a lot of local fishes available in the market. Over the past few years, it has changed. Due to the use of various illegal nets, excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers, the indigenous fishes of canals and other waterbodies are dying.”
Many have complained that the administration is not very active even though the banned nets are being sold in the markets.
Demanding a total stop of the use of these banned nets, former president of Bauphal Press Club and veteran journalist Atul Chandra Pal said, "As the native fish is on the way to extinction, various aquatic animals and fish fries are being destroyed with this net. The few native fish species that survive in this way will also become extinct soon.”
In this regard, Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Mahbubur Rahman said, “People are being made aware to stop the use of all prohibited nets, including China Duari. At the same time, these nets are being destroyed after raids. In the future, more extensive raids will be conducted.”
