This is the peak period when the marine fish swims against the tide to spawn in rivers
Dhaka Tribune: A 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding, and transporting of ilish or hilsa will come into effect from October 4 to protect ilish with eggs.
The ban will be effective until October 25, said a handout from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Wednesday.
This is the peak period when the marine fish swims against the tide to spawn in rivers.
Ilish has the highest contribution to the country’s fish production, the government says. It oncontributes to more than 12.09% of the country’s fish production.
Bangladesh produces the highest number of ilish in the world — more than 80%.
Ilish production in Bangladesh has gone up by 159.76% in the last 15 years, thanks to the government’s efforts, including their ban on catching brood fish, and fries.
The government also imposes bans on catching hilsa during March-April to help the hilsa fry grow and return to the sea.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, ilish production jumped from 300,000 tons in 2008-09 to 500,000 tons in 2017-18.
In the last financial year, 550,000 tons of ilish were caught in the country, 66% of which was from the districts of Barisal division.