The administration has seized an illegal wooden fishing trawler with a trawler and marine fish and nets worth about Tk 3.3 million in a raid in the Tetulia River of Galachipa Upazila of Patuakhali.
The raid was conducted on Tuesday, August 5, at 9:10 pm, on the basis of secret information in the Tetulia River adjacent to No. 1 Swizz of Char Biswas Union. The raid was led by Galachipa Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md. Zahirunnabi. The raid was assisted by the Marine Officer of Rangabali Upazila and members of the Char Montaj Naval Police Outpost.
A mechanical wooden trawler named “FB Mayer Arshibad-03” was seized in the raid, whose registration number is M-F 10519. The trawler contained a 417 horsepower engine, 6 trawl nets, 40 pieces of twine nets, about 120 carats of shrimp, loach, various marine fish including carp and 5 barrels of diesel.
The detainees failed to show valid documents and admitted during interrogation that they were illegally fishing using a trawler.
Galachipa Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md. Zahirunnabi said, “Based on confidential information, we conducted a raid and seized an illegal boat with a trawler. This type of trawler is used to illegally fish in the deep sea, which is harmful to marine biodiversity and the environment. We have taken action as per the law and such raids will continue regularly.”
He further said that the market value of the goods seized in the raid is estimated at Tk 33 million and a regular case has been filed with Galachipa Police Station against 15 people as defendants, under Section 28/51 of the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020.
Galachipa Police Station OC Ashadur Rahman said, “Fishing in the deep sea using illegal trawl nets is a punishable offense. Action has been taken in this regard as per the law and further steps will be taken after investigation.”
ASI Ripon Khandaker, Constable Govinda Kar and local witness Md. Raja were present in the operation.
The local administration said that such operations will continue regularly in the future to prevent illegal fishing.
