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CHATTOGRAM, Apr 19: The government has directed a halt to fishing in the Kaptai Lake, one of the prime sources of water and fish for the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), for three months from April 25 till July 24.
Sources said local administration directed the stop in fishing's for three months to give opportunity for the fishes in the lake to grow up. A taskforce was also formed to implement the government decision to stop all fishing in the water-body. Such step is taken every year for smooth-grooming of fish.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rangamati Md Mosharaf Hossain Khan held a meeting in this regard yesterday (Thursday) at his office with representatives of concerned offices.
The DC of Rangamati said, "A taskforce has already been formed to implement the government decision to stop all fishing in the Kaptai Lake on that day. The taskforce will resist all kinds of fishing in Kaptai Lake until further order.
Nobody can use current net, Katha net and any other net for fishing. Ice factories will remain closed during the period. No transport can carry fishes from Rangamati and Kaptai area to any other place of the country during the ban period. The said decisions will be implemented by the taskforce formed in the meeting."
He said they took the decision for harvesting the fishes in the lake. "We want to make the fish -- and water -- lift friendly environment in Kaptai Lake. I hope that fishes can be grown up smoothly and naturally for the step to stop fishing at Kaptai lake. I also hope that we can collect more fishes after stopping fishing for next several months."
To protect juvenile fish and increase natural breeding, the district magistrate has put a three-month ban on fishing, transporting, and marketing Kaptai Lake fish. The ban is effective from April 25 to July 24. It will be lifted on further notice.
"Till then, anyone defying the ban will face legal action. Law enforcers will be on patrol and a mobile court is set up to punish anyone fishing illegally," he added.
Sources said the administration would harvest 25-lakh MT Carp fishes in Kaptai Lake in the current month. As a result, nobody can continue the fishing in the period. Besides, within the period, the 'Fisheries Aroths' (wholesale centres) will remain closed.
The lake continues to serve as a valuable reservoir for hatchery and fish production as well. Fish produced in the lake meets local demand and is also supplied to Dhaka and other parts of the country. The average annual production of fish is more than 7,000 MT.
The Kaptai Lake is a manmade lake in southeastern Bangladesh, which is located in the Kaptai upazila of Rangamati hill district. The lake was created as a result of building the Kaptai dam on the river Karnaphuli in 1962, as part of the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric project. The Kaptai Lake's average depth is 100 feet (30 m) and maximum depth is 495 feet (151 m).