Fishermen's mental commitment to protecting mother hilsa is essential: Fisheries Minister

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a VGF rice distribution and awareness meeting among registered fishermen at the field of Bara Khan Bari in Paschim Dasadi village of Chandpur Sadar Upazila, on the occasion of the Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2026.

The minister said that if mother hilsa can spawn without disturbance, hilsa production will increase in the future. If mother hilsa are caught during the breeding season, production will be harmed the following year. Addressing the fishermen, he said they have direct experience regarding the life cycle and breeding of hilsa. Therefore, they also have greater responsibility to protect mother hilsa.

Noting that Chandpur once had an abundance of hilsa, the minister said that as hilsa availability has declined, it has also affected ice factories and related economic activities in the region. Although 25 kg of rice is being provided as government assistance, the conservation goal cannot be achieved without fishermen's awareness and sense of responsibility.

Highlighting fishermen's financial crisis and debt burden during the fishing ban, he said the government is considering creating sustainable alternative employment alongside temporary assistance. Considering Chandpur's geographical characteristics, he also emphasized exploring opportunities for modern technology-based alternative income, including fish farming in cages in rivers.

The minister further said that protecting mother hilsa is not only the government's responsibility; it is also linked to the fishermen's own future and the interests of the next generation. To protect hilsa breeding grounds, the government, fishermen, public representatives, and relevant officials must work together.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman, was attended as special guests by Member of Parliament for Chandpur-3 constituency Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Delwar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Khaled Kanak, Director General of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Dr. Md. Latiful Islam, Superintendent of Police Md. Mizanur Rahman, and Administrator of the District Council Advocate AKM Selim Ullah Selim.

At the end of the event, the minister distributed VGF rice among fishermen who were abstaining from hilsa harvesting.