Dr Md Abdur Rouf, director general of the Department of Fisheries, said the government is taking multi-pronged and long-term measures aimed at ensuring sustainable fishing for future generations.
He made the remarks Saturday at a views-exchange meeting in Mohipur, Patuakhali, titled “Voluntary Removal of Illegal Trawler Equipment and Protection of Marine Fisheries Resources.”
Rouf said dredging of rivers will remain a priority, alongside preventing encroachment and pollution. A detailed list of vulnerable river areas has been sent to the Ministry of Shipping, and the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute has been instructed to identify submerged shoals in rivers and sea routes.
Year-round drives will continue against the use of illegal trawlers, catching undersized fish, and fishing during the banned season, he added.
“Illegal trawlers damage fish and other aquatic life, hinder fish production and cause scarcity. Stopping them will increase production in the sea,” Rouf said, noting that the operations involve the administration, Coast Guard, local government and the Fisheries Department.
Rouf also pointed to the potential of the blue economy, saying research is under way to harvest tuna from the deep sea with both government and private sector involvement. Initiatives are being taken to expand Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) assistance for fishermen.
On international cooperation, Rouf said Bangladesh is working with India to coordinate fishing schedules. “Through coordinated efforts, diplomatic initiatives and legal processes, we will succeed in protecting our marine resources.”
Other speakers at the meeting called for greater VGF assistance, more dredging, and faster action to identify submerged shoals.
Fishermen’s representative Siddik Majhi urged for better government benefits during fishing bans and safer vessels to withstand storms. Some fishermen said the sea is currently yielding plenty of ilish and other fish, but bad weather often reduces their catch.
Earlier in the day, Rouf and his delegation inspected the Mohipur fish market. As part of the program, equipment from 28 illegal trawlers was voluntarily removed.
