The indiscriminate netting of shrimp and lobster fry in the rivers and their estuaries in the greater Faridpur region is destroying fish stocks.
According to locals, about 10,000 people of Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalgonj and Rajbari are directly or indirectly involved in catching and marketing shrimp and lobster fry.
The fry catchers use illegal current nets and mosquito nets to catch shrimp and lobster spawn. In this process, a huge quantity of fish fry and small fishes are caught.
As a result, some small varieties of boal, bele, pabdah, kalibaus, ruhit shol, chital, gazar and khallah fish are not available in the markets.
Though the use of current nets was banned by the government, the fishermen and the people are violating the ban.
Takerhat Bandor is the main centre for the sale and purchase of shrimp and lobster fry under Rajoir upazila in Madaripur.
One hundred pieces of shrimp or lobster fry
are sold at Tk 250 to Tk
350 at the wholesale market at the beginning of the season.
The price is coming down gradually as the supply is increasing. The big fish traders invest lakhs of taka in this sector. They even provide cash advance to the fry catchers to be sure of adequate supply of fish fry.
As the shrimp and lobster spawn are profitable, the people especially children of poor families, embark on catching fry in the rivers.
A family of four members can earn Tk 700 to Tk 800 per day by catching and selling shrimp and lobster fry.
Source : New Age
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