Bangladesh has banned fishing activities in all rivers and canals of the Sunderbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest in the delta formed between three rivers - as the breeding season kicks in, reported The Daily Star.  Sunderbans, spread over India’s West Bengal state and parts of Bangladesh, is famed for its marine and estuarine fish resources.

Mohammad Belayet Hossain, the East Sundarbans Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) said the ban will end at midnight on August 31.

In 2019, the Sunderbans Forest Division agreed to ban all fishing activities in Sunderbans from 1 July to 31 August each year. The move was recommended by the Integrated Resource Management Plans (IRMP) to protect fishery resources in the Sundarbans.

The annual ban aims to maintain the fish population in the region for sustainable usage. It will increase and it will play a positive role for the ecology, said Hossain.

It boasts of around 172 species of fish, 20 species of prawn and 44 species of crabs including two edible crabs. A large population in and around the region is dependent on fishery, which is regarded as the backbone of Sunderbans' economy and caters to the heavy demand for fish - a staple food in both West Bengal and Bangladesh.

However, overfishing in Sunderbans has impacted biodiversity, sustainability and livelihood of fish resources and fisherfolk. Overfishing, among others, remains a key reason for fisheries resource degradation in the country. And, the Bangladesh government has taken several measures to address the issue.

(SAM)