Warships Watch Waters as Bangladesh Bans Hilsa Fishing

As part of strict monitoring measures to enforce the fishing ban during the Hilsa breeding season, Bangladesh has deployed warships and maritime patrol aircraft in its coastal waters. Citing an official statement from the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate, news agency AFP reported on Saturday (October 4) that 17 naval warships and state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft have been deployed to prevent illegal fishing during the breeding period. The forces are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance to ensure that no local or foreign fishing vessels enter the deep sea.

The government has imposed a nationwide ban on fishing from October 4 to 25 to allow Hilsa to safely migrate to rivers and spawn.

Each year, shoals of Hilsa swim upstream from the Bay of Bengal into Bangladesh’s rivers to lay eggs—a natural cycle deeply tied to the country’s economy and culinary heritage.

Hilsa is not only Bangladesh’s national fish but also one of its most cherished delicacies. The fish is equally popular in the neighboring Indian state of West Bengal.

Experts have warned that overfishing and the impacts of climate change are disturbing the ecological balance of the deltaic region, leading to a gradual decline in Hilsa populations.

Md. Abdul Wahab, a former official of WorldFish, told the news agency, “During the spawning period, Hilsa need a calm and quiet aquatic environment. Therefore, using drones for monitoring would be more effective.”

To assist fishing communities during the three-week ban, the government has allocated 25 kilograms of rice to each fisher family. However, many fishermen say the aid is insufficient to sustain their livelihood.

“This three-week period is very difficult for us,” said 60-year-old fisherman Sattar Majhi. “We have no other work during this time.”