Crab fishing begins in Sundarbans

Fishermen become very happy as crab fishing in the Sundarbans and its adjacent areas has begun from Saturday (March 2) after a two-month ban.

Fishermen set out to collect crab after getting permission on March 1 from the Forest Department, forest official sources said.

The collection of crabs in various rivers and canals of Sundarbans was banned from January 1 to February 29 during the breeding season of crabs.

Due to the lack of complete preparation including buying and repairing boats, nets and other fishing elements, crab collecting started the next day after getting permission on Saturday afternoon.

Azad Kabir, Officer-in-Charge of Sundarbans Karamjal Tourism and Wildlife Breeding Centre told BSS that the crab collection area covers 1,874.1 square kilometers which is 31.15 percent of the entire Sundarbans area.

There are 450 large and small rivers and canals in the fishing area with 14 species of crabs, he said, adding that the forest department has banned fishermen from collecting crabs for 59 days as the two months of January and February are the breeding season for crabs.

He, however, said around 15,000 fishermen have got the pass-permits to crab fishing in the Sundarbans.

According to the crab export policy formulated in 1998, crab fishing pass-permits have been suspended for two months every year, he added.

Azad Kabir said that a total of 30 canals and less than 25 feet wide canals that were declared as sanctuaries have been banned for fishing crabs throughout the year.

Besides, the forest department will be very strict to stop illegal activities while fishing crabs in these two months, he said.

Forest guards have already been asked to intensify patrolling and other activities with a view to ensure that no one can get involved in illegal activities by misusing the crab fishing permit in the Sundarbans, he added.

Anisur Rahman, a crab fisherman at Joymoni area of Mongla, said “I am very happy after getting permission to catch crabs before Ramadan. I want to thank the forest department. It will be easy to maintain my family during the month of Ramadan”.

Like Anisur, many fishermen who got permission to net crabs in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans became very happy. (BSS)