Fishing resumes in Kaptai Lake after 3.5 month ban

Fishermen have returned to Kaptai Lake as the nearly three-and-a-half-month fishing ban came to an end. The ban was lifted after midnight on Monday (August 10), and fishermen took to the lake immediately. From Tuesday morning, boats laden with fish began arriving at the Fishery Landing Ghat in Rangamati town.

Boats carrying fish arrived from various areas, including Longadu, Barkal, Subalong and Bandukbhanga. Fishermen, labourers and auctioneers were busy unloading fish, weighing them and loading them onto trucks. After the long break, the ghat was once again bustling with activity.

Fishermen said the catch in the first haul is reasonably good, though most of the fish are small in size. Traders also noted that while the supply is satisfactory, there is a shortage of large fish. Additionally, traders reported a lack of pontoons and storage space at the ghat.

Leaders of the Rangamati Multi-purpose Fishermen's Cooperative Society said fish harvesting has started in the lake after nearly 100 days. A clearer picture of the total catch will emerge by the end of the day. Meanwhile, the Rangamati centre of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) said the fish are somewhat smaller in size due to adverse weather conditions.

BFDC Rangamati Centre Manager Md Foyez Al Karim said about 16 metric tonnes of fish had arrived at the ghat by 8:30am on Tuesday. On the first day after the ban ended last year, 125 metric tonnes of fish were harvested, exceeding the 10,000 metric tonnes target. Authorities hope to surpass the target again this year if weather conditions remain favourable.

Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed several conditions on fishermen following the lifting of the ban. A licence from the BFDC Rangamati centre is now mandatory for fishing. Additionally, fishing of juvenile fish under 9 inches, fishing in sanctuaries, and unloading fish outside designated landing ghats remain prohibited.