A 58-day ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal will begin from midnight on April 14 and continue until June 11 to protect marine fish including hilsa during their breeding season. 

This year’s ban has been reduced from 65 days, aligning with India’s timeline.

Meanwhile, fishermen welcomed the decision of the government.

Pradeep Kumar Sarker, Senior Assistant Director of Patuakhali District Fisheries Office, said the main goal of the ban is to allow fish to breed without disturbance and help small fish grow. “We expect to catch larger hilsa this season as a result,” he said.

According to the district fisheries office, while over 81,000 fishermen are registered in Patuakhali, around 47,000 are directly involved in fishing at sea. Each of them will receive 77 kilograms of rice during the ban period as part of government support.

The local administration has completed all necessary preparations to ensure proper enforcement of the fishing ban.

BDST: 1819 HRS, April 14, 2025
MSK