Native fish species being killed by banned nets in Naogaon

 Babul Akhtar Rana

Naogaon, July 3, 2025: Banned ring nets, gill nets, gill nets and whirling nets are being used freely in Atrai and Shib rivers, Bilhilna, Bilmanda and various nearby canals and bilges of Manda upazila of the district. These nets are constantly catching fry of various species of indigenous fish including Boal, Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Tengra, Puti, Shing, Koi, Shrimp and Guchi.

As a result, fish production is decreasing, and many indigenous fish species are facing extinction. Some rare fish species, including the Patashi, Banshpatari, Ita, Gagar, Kalabaus, and Dari, are already disappearing. Tengra fish is no longer seen in the Atrai River.

Local conscious groups demand that regular campaigns be conducted to prevent the killing of pona fish, the sale of banned nets be stopped, and those involved be punished. Otherwise, one day, local fish species may remain only a memory.

Ismail Hossain, a resident of Dwariapur village in the upazila, said that when the water level in the river decreases during the dry season, a festival of catching mother fish with banned nets is held. When the monsoon arrives, the killing of fry fish starts. The hunters are using various banned nets including current, ring net, and kachal. There is no supervision by the fisheries office. The fish is decreasing day by day.
Shahidul Islam Shahid, a resident of Gopalpur Bazar, made the same complaint. He said that a large number of native fish fry are being caught from Bilmanda every day and sold openly in various markets including Gopalpur. Mother fish are also being caught in these nets. If this continues, native fish will become extinct in the future.

Omar Faruk, a resident of Pariladanga village in Mohanpur upazila of Rajshahi, said that a large number of local varieties of pona fish are caught from Bilhilna every day in banned nets. These fish are sold openly in Pariladanga shops. Later, it spread from here to various districts including Rajshahi.

Kamrul Islam, a member of Paranpur Union Parishad in Manda Upazila, said, "We have informed the Upazila Fisheries Office about the issue of fishing with banned nets. But no action has been taken."

In this regard, Manda Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Dipankar Pal said that public awareness will be raised through miking and leaflet distribution next week. Even then, if anyone uses banned nets, legal action will be taken against them.