Rise in fuel prices also taking a toll on hilsa
Sun, Jul 18 2021 10:16:34 AM
By Saibal Gupta
Kolkata, Jul 18 (IANS): The spiralling prices of petrol and diesel in the last one year is not only taking the famous hilsa fish out of the reach of the middle-class Bengalis, but it is also having a far-reaching effect on the population of this silver queen of the river . The steep hike in the fuel cost is inhibiting fishermen from going into the deep sea and they are forced to catch the smaller juvenile hilsa that stay in the shallow water near the coastline, endangering the species altogether.
Diamond Harbour: Bodies of 10 fishermen who went missing when a trawler capsized in the Bay of Bengal, off Bakkhali, early on Wednesday were recovered on Thursday with the help of the Coast Guard.
As ‘FB Haimabati’ was tugged ashore at Baliari in the morning and pumps used to drain out water, rescuers were confronted with the heartbreaking scene of nine lifeless men all expert swimmers entangled in fishing nets inside the cabin. “They must have tried to rush out of the cabin when the trawler began sinking, but were unfortunately trapped by the nets,” said Bijon Maity, secretary of Kakdwip Fishermen’s Association.
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.
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