Fishermen’s commitment key to protecting mother hilsa: Minister

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Tuesday said fishermen’s commitment to protecting mother hilsa was more important than law enforcement, the deployment of police and coastguards, or government assistance alone.

“Unless you are mentally prepared not to catch mother hilsa, providing 25kg of rice or even 100kg will not solve the problem,” he said.

The minister was speaking at an awareness meeting and a Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice distribution programme for registered fishermen at Bara Khan Bari field in Paschim Dasadi village of Chandpur Sadar upazila, marking the Mother Hilsa Conservation Drive 2026, according to a press release.

He said protecting mother hilsa during the breeding season would allow them to lay eggs safely, boosting production in subsequent years, while catching them during this critical period would undermine future supplies.

Addressing the fishermen, Aminur Rashid said they understood hilsa’s life cycle, breeding and conservation better than many others because of their direct involvement in fishing.

“You have the greatest responsibility to protect mother hilsa. If they get the opportunity to lay eggs, we will have hilsa next year as well,” he said.

Recalling Chandpur’s historic reputation for hilsa, he said the region once had abundant supplies of the fish and numerous ice factories to support its transportation and preservation. The subsequent decline in hilsa availability had also reduced related economic activity, he added.

The minister acknowledged that fishing bans placed financial pressure on fishing families, many of whom struggle to maintain their households and resort to borrowing. The government was therefore exploring sustainable alternative livelihoods rather than relying solely on temporary assistance, he said.

Given Chandpur’s geography and river-based livelihoods, he said conventional pond-based fish farming was not always suitable, particularly during the monsoon, when rising water levels could cause fish to escape. He suggested exploring cage-based river fish farming and other modern technologies suited to local conditions to create alternative employment opportunities.

Calling for coordinated efforts by the government, local representatives, fisheries officials and fishermen, the minister said conserving mother hilsa was not merely a government responsibility but was vital to fishermen’s future livelihoods and the next generation. Protecting breeding grounds would benefit fishing families and others involved in the country’s fisheries sector, he added.

Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman chaired the meeting.

Following the programme, the minister distributed VGF rice among fishermen who would refrain from fishing during the mother hilsa conservation drive.