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An eight-month nationwide ban on catching juvenile Hilsa (Jatka) began on Saturday and will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, aiming to boost Hilsa production and ensure sustainable conservation.
Supervised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and implemented by the Department of Fisheries, the ban strictly prohibits the catching, transportation, marketing, buying, selling, and storage of Hilsa smaller than 25 centimetres, UNB reports.
Earlier, from October 4 to 25, the government conducted the “Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2025” to protect brood Hilsa during their peak breeding season.
Officials said the eggs laid by brood fish during that period have now hatched, and the young Hilsa are currently roaming coastal rivers and estuaries. If these fry are allowed to grow safely, the country’s Hilsa production is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
According to the amended Fish Protection and Conservation Ordinance 2025 and the Fish Protection and Conservation Rules 1985, violators of the ban may face up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 lakh, or both.
The Department of Fisheries, in coordination with district and upazila administrations, the Navy, Coast Guard, River Police, RAB, and other law enforcement agencies, will strictly enforce the ban across the country.