The Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized a huge consignment of illegal current fishing nets and thread reels worth approximately Tk 391.5 million during an operation in the Dingabhanga area of Binodpur, under Panchasar Union in Munshiganj. The operation was carried out on Sunday (23 November), and the information was confirmed on Monday morning (24 November) through a press release.
According to the statement issued by Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, a special team from Coast Guard Station Pagla conducted the raid at around 4:00 pm, acting on the basis of confidential intelligence.
During the operation, the team searched six illegal net-manufacturing factories and two warehouses located in the area. As a result, approximately 111 million metres of banned current nets were recovered, along with around 60,000 pieces of thread reels used for manufacturing fishing nets. The total estimated market value of the seized items is around Tk 391.5 million.
After the operation, all seized current nets and thread reels were destroyed in accordance with existing laws and regulations, in the presence of a senior fisheries officer. The Coast Guard stated that such nets pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems by indiscriminately killing fish fry and other aquatic species.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the production, storage and distribution of illegal current nets pose a major risk to the country’s fisheries resources. These nets contribute significantly to the destruction of biodiversity in rivers and coastal waters, ultimately affecting the livelihoods of fishermen.
He added that the Bangladesh Coast Guard regularly conducts operations to protect fisheries resources, prevent the production and marketing of illegal fishing nets, and maintain law and order in riverine and coastal areas. Such enforcement activities will be further intensified in the future, and those involved in illegal activities will be brought to justice.
GLIVE/TSN