Kaptai Lake sees bumper fish haul, 310 tonnes in 2 days

Fishermen have caught approximately 310 metric tonnes of fish in the first two days of fishing after a three-month and sixteen-day ban ended in Kaptai Lake, Rangamati. Revenue from the catch stood at around Tk 68 lakh, nearly double the amount from the same period in recent years.

The Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) in Rangamati confirmed the figure on Thursday, August 13.

According to sources, fishing officially began on Monday, August 11. After the ban, fishermen worked day and night, landing a substantial quantity of fish on Tuesday and Wednesday. Approximately 310 metric tonnes of fish were landed during these two days.

Around 45 species of fish are found in Kaptai Lake, including Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Chital, Kalibaus, Boal, Pabda, Tengra, Grass Carp, Tilapia, Shing, Chapila, Kechki, Gajar, Baim, Foli, Shol, Taki, Koi, Choto Ayr, Batasi, and Baillah, among others .

BFDC Rangamati sources said Kaptai Lake, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in Southeast Asia , is the country's primary freshwater fish production area . It supplies fish to Chattogram, Dhaka and other parts of the country. Around 26,845 fishing families are directly involved with the lake .

During the fishing ban, the Rangamati Fisheries Development Department released a large number of fish fingerlings into the lake. Natural breeding of fish also improved during the ban period. As a result, fish abundance has increased since the ban ended, boosting government revenue and meeting the country's freshwater fish demand while benefiting fishermen.

Commander Md Faiz Al Karim, manager of the Development and Marketing Centre of Rangamati Fisheries Development Department, said the bumper haul this year was possible due to successful natural breeding and propagation in Kaptai Lake, for which BFDC officials and staff worked diligently.

He said there are 77 registered fish traders at Rangamati Fishery and 76 BFDC officials and staff.

BFDC has four fish landing centres in Kaptai Lake: one at Marishya in Baghaichhari upazila, Rangamati; one in Rangamati Sadar; one in Kaptai upazila; and one in Mahalchhari, Khagrachhari. The lake also has seven fish sanctuaries.

Meanwhile, a designated time has been set for landing fish in Rangamati. No fish can be landed at the fishery ghat after 7pm.