Fishermen excited : Fish harvesting begins in Kaptai Lake
Pinky Akhter, Rangamati
To ensure the natural reproduction of carp fish in Kaptai Lake and the proper growth of released fry, fish harvesting has begun again in Kaptai Lake from 12 midnight on Saturday (2 August) after the ban on fishing from 1 May to 31 July (three months).
Fishermen are excited to get the opportunity to fish in the lake after a long 94 days. Due to the start of fish harvesting from midnight, the district's fish landing center BFDC Ghat has become busy. Preparations for fishing have been in full swing. Fishermen, businessmen and workers are spending a busy time.
Kaptai Lake is one of the largest sources of freshwater fish in the country. Where fish is harvested continuously for 9 months a year. The small fish caught include chapila, kachki, pabda, bacha, gulsa and several species of carp like rui katal, kalibaus ayar. These fish arrive at various landing centers of BFDC and after paying the revenue, they go to different parts of the country.
BFDC Rangamati branch manager Commander Md. Faiz Al Karim said, fish landing has started after 94 days. Last year, the target was 7,500 metric tons, but we have received about 9,000 metric tons of fish.
He said, with the amount of fish we are getting today, we are hopeful that we will be able to achieve the same amount of fish we received last year or more than that. Today, the amount of small fish has come a little more as the first day. However, as time goes by, the amount of carp or big fish will increase.
Fish traders said, this success has come as a result of timely rain, sufficient water in the lake, and proper monitoring during the closure. The fish have grown. I hope that this year there will be more revenue than last year. Along with this, we fishermen will also benefit.’
The fishermen say that we are all happy to be able to return to work after being unemployed for a long time. A large number of fish came on the first day. But the size of the fish is small.
In 1962, the 725 square kilometer Kaptai Lake was created by damming the Karnaphuli River. About 27,000 fishermen earn their living by fishing in this lake.
