Hilsa fishing will remain banned across Bangladesh for 22 days from October 8 to 29 to ensure safe breeding of the national fish during its peak breeding season.

The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of the National Task Force Committee on Hilsa Resource Development, held to determine the fishing ban period and implement the Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2026.

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid chaired the meeting at the ministry's conference room, said a press release by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Transportation and storage, marketing, buying, selling and exchange of hilsa will also remain prohibited nationwide during the 22-day ban.

The government will provide VGF food assistance to fishermen who refrain from fishing during the period.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Amin Ur Rashid said there would be no compromise in protecting mother hilsa to ensure sustainable production of the fish.

“Monitoring and enforcement must be strengthened in major hilsa breeding grounds, including Barishal, Chandpur and Bhola,” he said.

He called for coordinated efforts by the district administrations, river police, Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to strictly enforce the fishing ban during the breeding season.

If necessary, additional boats and logistical support will be provided at key hotspots, he added.

The minister also called for increased surveillance at ice plants, fish landing centres, wholesale markets and other markets to prevent the marketing of illegally caught fish.

He instructed authorities to conduct strict drives to remove illegal fishing nets from hilsa breeding grounds, including the Chandpur confluence.

“There can be no opportunity to catch or market fish during the prohibited period,” he said.

The minister expressed hope that continued coordinated efforts by all relevant agencies to conserve mother hilsa would help increase hilsa production in the next fishing season.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku MP said the reasons behind the declining production of hilsa must be identified through research.

“We need to identify weaknesses and gaps in implementation and take necessary measures accordingly,” he said.

Emphasising the need to curb illegal fishing nets, he called for effective measures to stop the production and sale of banned nets.

He also urged fishermen's representatives to raise awareness among fishing communities so that they do not purchase such nets.

The state minister said the government was providing incentives to fishermen to encourage them to refrain from fishing during the ban period.

Monitoring would be strengthened to ensure that the assistance reaches genuine fishermen, he added.

“It is a matter of concern that hilsa production has declined to such an extent that we now have to import fish from abroad,” he said.

The reasons behind the situation must be identified and addressed through coordinated efforts, he added.

He said an integrated action plan would be developed in the coming days to protect hilsa as a national resource and a GI (Geographical Indication) product, while increasing its production.