Fishing in Kaptai Lake will be closed for three months from today Thursday. During this period, fishing cannot be done in the vast Kaptai Lake with the eight and two upazilas of Rangamati and Khagrachari. Fish harvesting is scheduled to begin on July 25 after the three-month ban. If there is not enough water in the lake even during the prescribed period of prohibition, the period of prohibition may be extended; This is what district administration sources say.
Balanced growth of carp in Kaptai lake for three months every year, The administration stopped fishing in the lake to ensure the natural reproduction of fish and to protect biodiversity. During this time, the local ice mills are also closed, along with the fish market in the lake. In a consistent manner, Fishing in Kaptai Lake is closed for three months from 1st May to 31st July every year. However, in recent years, fishing has been stopped prematurely due to an unusually rapid decline in the lake’s water level.
Last year too, fishing was stopped 12 days before the scheduled time. Again, the closure period was extended for another 1 month and 12 days in two phases if the lake did not raise enough water in the prescribed period of three months. After 4 months and 12 days fishing ban, fishing started again in Kaptai Lake from September 1. This time too, fishing has been stopped six days before the scheduled time. Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation will release carp fry in the lake during fishing closure period (BFDC).
According to the Department of Fisheries, Apart from Rajasthanli and Kaukhali of Rangamati, the remaining eight upazilas and Dighinala and Mahalachari upazilas of Khagrachari have about 26,500 registered fishermen who depend on Kaptai lake. During the three-month fishing off-season in the lake, the families of lake dependent fishermen are given foodgrain assistance through VGF cards.
Kaptai Lake Fisheries Development and Marketing Center Manager Commander Md. Ashraful Alam Bhuiyan said, Fishing in Kaptai Lake will be closed for three months from Wednesday midnight i.e. April 25. Carp fry will be released in Kaptai lake during fishing closure period like every year. This season we have a target of 55 MT release of Pona. On May 4, the minister will start the distribution of VGF card food grains to fish fry and fishermen families.
