Defying ban, Bhola's shrimp larva hunters run wild, authorities stumped

In the coastal heart of Bhola, a clandestine spectacle unfolds each year under the cover of dawn and dusk – a spree of "shrimp fry hunting" with banned micromesh nets defies government bans and threatens the delicate aquatic ecosystems of the Meghna and Tetulia rivers. 

Despite a longstanding prohibition on catching shrimp fry, enforced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock since 2000, local fishers wielding illegal mosquito nets and fine-mesh nets swarm the rivers from late March to June, chasing the lucrative post-larvae of bagda (tiger shrimp) and lump shrimp. 

This frenzied hunt, driven by high market demand, not only flouts regulations but also wreaks havoc on marine biodiversity, ensnaring countless larvae of other fish species alongside the prized shrimp fry. 

On the riverbanks of Bhola Sadar, Daulatkhan, Borhanuddin, Tajumuddin, Lalmohan, Char Fassion, and Monpura, the scene is both vibrant and alarming. 

Shrimp fry hunters in the Meghna River, including Md. Raju, Md. Ismail, and Md. Alam, reported that from late March to June, they use banned mosquito nets and fine-mesh nets to capture bagda (tiger shrimp) and lump shrimp larvae. Their daily hauls vary, ranging from 400 to 2,000 larvae, which they sell to local traders for Tk 1 each. These traders then supply wholesalers in Bhola, fetching Tk 1.5 per larva. Similarly, Tetulia River fishers Md Mosleuddin and Abdul Hai use illegal nets, catching bagda and lump shrimp larvae alongside larvae of fish species like Balia, Bata, Poa, and Pangas. While they store shrimp larvae in containers, they often discard non-target fish larvae back into the river. However, some fishers recklessly discard both shrimp and fish larvae into the water, exacerbating the ecological damage.

The collateral damage is staggering: larvae of fish species like Baiia, Bata, Poa, and Pangas are caught in the nets, with many discarded carelessly on riverbanks or back into the water, often too damaged to survive. 

One estimate suggests that a single fry collector could destroy up to 4,000 Poa fish fry in just four hours, contributing to an annual loss of aquatic biodiversity valued at Tk 6,000 crore in the Meghna alone.

The Fisheries Department, tasked with protecting these vital waterways, finds itself hamstrung. 

District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Deb admits that a bumper crop of shrimp fry this year has intensified the illegal hunt, with women and children joining the fray. 

Yet, with three of Bhola’s seven upazilas lacking fisheries officers due to staffing shortages, regular patrols are a distant dream. 

Despite occasional raids – resulting in eight arrests and the seizure of 18 million shrimp fry – the department’s efforts are a drop in the bucket against the scale of the poaching. 

The Coast Guard and police assist when possible, but the sheer number of fishers and the audacity of the smuggling networks overwhelm their resources.

Local voices, like Md Ershad of the Small Fishermen’s Association, sound the alarm on the looming crisis. “The peak season in April, May, and June sees billions of fish larvae destroyed in these illegal nets,” he warns. “If this continues, we’ll face a fish crisis in our rivers.” 

Ershad calls for stricter enforcement and targeted action against smugglers to curb the larvae trade and protect future fish stocks. The stakes are high: Bangladesh’s rivers, a lifeline for millions, risk becoming barren if the unchecked destruction persists. 

This illicit shrimp larva hunting spree, while a testament to the economic desperation of coastal communities, casts a dark shadow over the future of Bhola’s rivers. 

The banned nets, the smuggled fry, and the Fisheries Department’s admitted helplessness paint a vivid picture of a region caught between survival and sustainability.