Desk News || The government is preparing new initiatives to increase hilsa production in Bangladesh, with a focus on protecting breeding grounds, preventing the catching of juvenile fish, enforcing fishing regulations, restoring river navigability and expanding support for fishermen.The proposed measures also emphasize scientific research, modern monitoring technologies and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. Fisheries experts believe that sustainable growth in hilsa production will depend not only on enforcing fishing bans but also on restoring natural habitats and ensuring the active participation of fishing communities in conservation efforts.Hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, is an important source of nutrition, employment and export earnings. However, declining production in recent years has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the country’s hilsa resources. New Project Planned to Strengthen Hilsa ConservationMohammad Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director of the Hilsa Resource Management Division of the Department of Fisheries, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) that a new project had been formulated following the completion of the previous Hilsa Resource Development and Management Project.The proposed project, titled Sustainable Development of Hilsa through the Conservation of Brood Hilsa and Juvenile Hilsa, is expected to begin after receiving government approval.According to Azad, the initiative will prioritize the enforcement of fisheries laws, mobile court operations against illegal fishing, alternative employment opportunities for fishermen and expanded government assistance during fishing bans.The number of proposed beneficiaries under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme has been increased from 620,000 to 646,000, according to the information provided by the Department of Fisheries.Azad said hilsa production remained relatively low this year, potentially reflecting changes associated with climate variability, ecosystem conditions and natural ecological processes. He expressed optimism that coordinated government initiatives could contribute to higher production in the coming years. Multiple Factors Behind Declining ProductionDr Masud Rana, chairman of the Department of Fishing and Post-Harvest Technology at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said the decline in hilsa production could not be attributed to a single cause.According to him, catching juvenile hilsa, harvesting mature female fish during the breeding season, using undersized fishing nets, declining river navigability, water pollution, altered river flows, unplanned infrastructure development and excessive fishing pressure at sea were collectively affecting hilsa stocks.Citing Department of Fisheries data, Rana said hilsa accounted for approximately 12 per cent of Bangladesh’s total fish production.The country produced around 529,000 tonnes of hilsa in the 2023–24 fiscal year, with an estimated market value of Tk 206.8 billion. Production subsequently fell to approximately 500,000 tonnes in the 2024–25 fiscal year, representing a decline of about 5.5 per cent from the previous year.The reversal following several years of growth has renewed calls for a comprehensive review of hilsa resource management. Protecting Breeding Fish and Juveniles Is CrucialState Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku told BSS that protecting hilsa was a collective responsibility involving the government, fishing communities and the wider public.He said effective enforcement of fishing restrictions could help increase production and ensure long-term benefits for fishermen.The minister stressed the importance of observing the government-declared 22-day fishing ban from October 8 to October 29, as stated in the source report, to protect breeding hilsa.Fisheries experts say protecting mature female hilsa during the spawning season is essential because successful reproduction allows the next generation of fish to replenish natural stocks.They recommend regular patrols at important river locations, monitoring of fishing vessels and sustained enforcement operations against illegal fishing.Rana said conservation plans should be based on scientific information about spawning locations, breeding periods, migration patterns and environmental conditions. Controlling water pollution, preventing waste disposal into rivers and addressing declining navigability are also necessary to protect hilsa habitats. Juvenile Fishing Threatens Future StocksProfessor Mohammad Abdul Wahab of the Department of Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture at Bangladesh Maritime University said Bangladesh had experienced declining hilsa production over the past two years.Production began increasing after reaching approximately 396,000 tonnes in 2016. During the subsequent growth period, annual production reportedly increased by around 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes in several fiscal years.Wahab said annual catches of approximately 550,000 to 600,000 tonnes could fall within a sustainable production range, subject to scientific assessment of the stock and its capacity to recover.He identified the harvesting of mature female hilsa during the breeding season and the indiscriminate catching of juvenile fish as two major factors behind the recent decline.According to Wahab, earlier conservation measures contributed to production growth. These included a 22-day ban on catching brood hilsa, an eight-month restriction on juvenile hilsa fishing, seasonal fishing bans in sanctuaries during March and April, restrictions on nets with mesh sizes below 6.5 centimetres, and food assistance for fishermen during fishing bans.Five hilsa sanctuaries were established in 2005. Wahab said their effectiveness should now be reassessed and their boundaries revised where necessary.He explained that juvenile hilsa move in large groups towards the sea during March and April after hatching in the Padma-Meghna river system. During this migration, many are caught in prohibited nets in rivers and by fishing vessels operating in shallow coastal waters.Such practices prevent young fish from reaching maturity and reproducing, placing additional pressure on future hilsa stocks. Wahab called for a zero-tolerance approach to juvenile hilsa fishing.River encroachment, pollution and declining water depth are also damaging the ecosystems required for the fish to grow and migrate naturally, he added. Illegal Nets and Fishing Practices Need Stronger OversightRana said government regulations require industrial trawlers to operate beyond the 40-metre depth boundary specified for fishing activities. However, allegations have emerged at different times that trawling takes place within restricted depth zones.The use of excessively fine-mesh nets and unsuitable fishing gear can result in the capture of fish of different sizes, including juvenile hilsa and other species before they reach reproductive maturity.Fishermen operating in the coastal region have also expressed concern about the widespread catching of small fish.Several fishermen who fish in the Bishkhali River, including Md Liton Hossain, Md Kaiyum and Niru Khan, told the source report that small fish are caught soon after hatching using fine-mesh nets. Some small fish are reportedly sold in local markets under the name chapila.They also described the use of current nets and prohibited behundi nets to catch large quantities of juvenile fish. They said similar fishing practices were reported in areas including Chandpur, Hatiya in Noakhali, Bhola and other southern coastal districts.Experts say stronger surveillance, regular inspections of fishing vessels and stricter controls on prohibited fishing equipment are necessary to address these practices. Water Pollution and Food Shortages Affect Hilsa GrowthThe availability of natural food is another concern for hilsa conservation.A study by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, as described in the source report, identified 27 species of zooplankton and 12 species of phytoplankton in the hilsa diet. The report stated that plankton abundance in the Meghna River had declined by 68 per cent, identifying river pollution as a major contributing factor.Mohammad Ashraful Alam, a principal scientific officer at the institute, has also conducted research indicating a worrying decline in plankton availability in the Padma-Meghna estuarine system.Plankton forms an important part of the aquatic food web and contributes to the growth of fish. A decline in its availability may therefore affect hilsa growth, body size and overall productivity.Researchers believe that regular monitoring of water quality, plankton abundance, salinity and river flows should become an integral part of hilsa management.They emphasize that fisheries conservation must extend beyond restrictions on fishing to include the protection of aquatic habitats and the food sources required for fish to thrive. Modern Technology Could Improve Hilsa ManagementRana has recommended greater use of modern technology to identify hilsa breeding grounds, migration routes and nursery areas.Satellite imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could help map important habitats and identify locations requiring additional protection.Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning could be used to analyse water temperature, salinity, river flows, chlorophyll levels and other environmental indicators to predict hilsa movements and potential concentrations.Internet of Things (IoT) sensors could support real-time monitoring of water quality in rivers and estuaries. DNA-based methods and hydroacoustic technology could also help researchers assess the presence and distribution of hilsa.In addition, drones, AI-assisted surveillance and GPS-based vessel monitoring could strengthen efforts to detect illegal fishing activities.Digital catch databases, improved fishing gear monitoring and climate-based forecasting systems could provide further support for evidence-based management.Experts say integrating these tools into a coordinated system could improve the protection of natural hilsa stocks, help identify environmental changes and make enforcement more targeted.However, the effectiveness of such technologies would depend on adequate funding, reliable data, trained personnel and coordination among relevant agencies. Gujarat's Experience Offers Lessons for BangladeshChanges in hilsa production and availability in the Narmada River estuary and Bharuch region of India's Gujarat state have attracted the attention of researchers interested in improving fisheries management in Bangladesh.Potential explanations include increased freshwater flows following heavy rainfall, changes in estuarine salinity and environmental conditions that may favour hilsa migration.However, researchers caution that further scientific investigation is needed to establish the actual reasons behind the changes in Gujarat.A comparative assessment of the river systems, estuarine environments and ecological conditions in Gujarat and Bangladesh could help identify lessons relevant to domestic fisheries management.Rana said maintaining natural water flows in the Padma, Meghna, Tetulia and other important river basins should be a priority. Protecting estuarine ecosystems and preserving suitable breeding and feeding environments are equally important.He emphasized that any policy lessons drawn from Gujarat should be supported by scientific evidence rather than assumptions about the causes of production changes. Experts Call for Reviewing Conservation MeasuresWahab said the existing 22-day fishing ban during the breeding season remained an important conservation measure. However, he suggested that researchers should examine whether climate change has altered the timing of hilsa spawning and whether any adjustment to the ban might be scientifically justified.He also called for a reassessment of hilsa sanctuaries, stronger enforcement against juvenile fishing and continued assistance for fishermen during periods when fishing is prohibited.Experts say conservation measures are more likely to succeed when fishing communities receive timely food assistance, have access to alternative employment and are involved in decisions affecting their livelihoods.Transparent beneficiary lists and effective delivery of government support could also strengthen cooperation between fishermen and enforcement agencies. Hilsa Supports Millions of LivelihoodsHilsa is closely connected to Bangladesh's economy, food culture and coastal livelihoods.According to the figures cited in the source report, approximately 600,000 people are directly involved in hilsa fishing. Another 2 million to 2.5 million people are indirectly or directly engaged in related activities, including transportation, marketing, net and boat manufacturing, ice production and fish processing.Hilsa is also an important source of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in its The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 report, provides international data on fisheries and aquaculture production. The source report states that Bangladesh ranks second globally in inland capture fisheries production and fifth in aquaculture production, while also identifying Bangladesh as the leading country in hilsa harvesting.On August 17, 2017, hilsa received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition as a Bangladeshi product, further strengthening its national significance. Integrated Action Needed for Sustainable GrowthFisheries experts believe that increasing hilsa production requires a long-term strategy combining effective law enforcement, protection of mature female fish and juveniles, restoration of river navigability, pollution control, scientific research and modern monitoring technologies.The reassessment of sanctuaries, protection of estuarine ecosystems and adoption of science-based fishing practices should form part of the same management framework.Equally important is the protection of fishermen's livelihoods. Timely government assistance and alternative employment opportunities during fishing bans could encourage greater participation in conservation programmes.Ultimately, sustainable growth in hilsa production will depend on protecting the natural environment that supports the fish throughout its life cycle. Coordinated action by the government, researchers, enforcement agencies and fishing communities could help safeguard Bangladesh's hilsa resources for future generations.