Such rampant fishing of juveniles has already spelt doom for the hilsa population and catch of larger fish has reduced dramatically
KOLKATA: The steep hike in fuel prices is taking a toll on hilsa health in the Indian waters of the Bay of Bengal as fishermen cast their nets in shallow waters along the coastline instead of venturing deep into the sea for the catch. They are also using finer nets that trap the juvenile hilsa instead of the larger nets that allow the small ones to escape.
Hilsa, a sea fish, moves into rivers to lay eggs before returning to the sea. Shoals of young hilsa, too, make their way back to the sea. It is during this return journey that the younger ones are getting caught in fine nets laid close to the shore line.