Jatka Protection Campaign Pays off

Hilsa production up by 6 lakh tonnes in 7 yrs

13 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The production of hilsha has increased by 5.96 lakh metric tons in the past seven years since the launch of a campaign to protect jatka (hilsa fry), according to the official statistics. The figures were presented at a workshop on the evaluation of the National Jatka Protection Programme at the Bangladesh Medical Association auditorium in the city. The evaluation report on Jatka Protection Programme says that the annual harvest of hilsa has gradually increased since 2003-04 when the campaign kicked off officially. Fisheries department, the local administration, the navy and the Coast Guard have conducted drives against catching of jatka in seven districts during the campaign. Fishermen were provided with rehabilitation programmes under the programme, the report says. During the drives, they have seized 198.48 metric tons of jatka and 112.4 lakh metres of illegal fishing nets. Speaking as the chief guest at the workshop, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md Abdul Latif Biswas said the number of jatka have increased in recent times after the campaign was undertaken, which is a positive sign. “Hilsa is our national resources; we must protect jatka and the mother hilsa to protect them from being extinct,” he added. He also said, "Some fishermen have faced problems due to the campaign, but we have tried to rehabilitate them properly." The jatka protection campaign continues from November to May each year. Under the campaign, the fisheries department and local administration also conduct awareness campaign. The campaign is conducted in 20 districts and 92 upazilas. Director General of the Fisheries Department Md Majibur Rahman also spoke at the workshop chaired by Md Sharful Alam.