The Bangladesh Coast Guard’s East Zone has intensified patrols, special operations and public awareness campaigns to protect mother hilsa during the ongoing 22-day fishing ban.
The nationwide ban, effective from October 8 to October 29, prohibits the catching, transportation, storage, marketing, buying and selling of hilsa to ensure safe breeding during the fish’s peak spawning season.
The Coast Guard is conducting regular patrols and maintaining strict surveillance across rivers, coastal areas and maritime zones under its East Zone to ensure effective enforcement of the government’s restrictions.
As part of the ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation-2026’ campaign, the force has strengthened intelligence surveillance and round-the-clock patrols along rivers and coastal waters to prevent illegal fishing and protect hilsa during the breeding season.
Alongside enforcement operations, the Coast Guard is conducting public awareness activities, including announcements through loudspeakers, leaflet distribution and meetings with fishermen, urging them to comply with the fishing ban.
The force is also conducting coordinated operations with district administrations, the Department of Fisheries, other law enforcement agencies and relevant organisations involved in mother hilsa conservation.
Legal action is being taken against those found violating the restrictions, the Coast Guard said.
The initiative aims to protect mother hilsa during spawning, preserve the country’s fisheries resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of hilsa production. The Coast Guard emphasised that conservation efforts today would help secure greater fish stocks in the future.
It called on fishermen and members of the public to cooperate with the authorities by respecting the ban and helping protect mother hilsa, thereby contributing to the development of Bangladesh’s blue economy.
The force also urged the public to report violations of the government’s restrictions or any irregularities related to mother hilsa conservation by calling the Coast Guard’s emergency service number, 16111.