Fish being caught thru poisoning in Sundarbans

Bidhan Chandra Ghosh, Dakop (Khulna)

Even during the breeding season, fish hunting is going on in various rivers and canals of East and West Sundarbans using environmentally destructive poisons. In this, various species of fish and fish fry are constantly being destroyed.

Some corrupt officials and employees of the Department of Forest are assisting a class of miscreants called fishermen in this work. As a result, it has been alleged that the restriction of fishing permits in the Sundarbans during the breeding season is limited only on paper.

According to sources, 31 percent of the Sundarbans is covered by wetlands. Fisheries comprise a large part of the vast natural resources. About 450 rivers have crisscrossed the forest. There are 210 species of white fish in these rivers, including 26 species of shrimps, 13 species of crabs, including numerous aquatic animals. The government earns a huge amount of revenue from this fishery every year. The main breeding season of fish is currently going on in the Sundarbans. For this reason, there is a ban on fishing in the forest during the three months of June, July and August, and ban on fishing permits for fishermen.

But some miscreants called fishermen are illegally entering the Sundarbans in the hope of making more profit with less effort and hunting fish using environmentally destructive poisons in every canal and river and even in the restricted canals known as fish breeding zones. Some dishonest officials and employees of the DoF are helping them in this work. Due to the close relationship and support of the said officers and employees with those miscreants in the areas adjacent to the forest, fish breeding is being severely disrupted.

It is known that during mid-tide, poison is mixed with the canal water. After some time, the fish get stuck in the net. Various poisons are used in this work. In this, on the one hand, different species of fish and fish fry are being destroyed, on the other hand, tigers, deer and other wild animals of the forest are dying due to various diseases after drinking poisoned water. Again, by eating the poisoned fish, people are suffering from various complex diseases including stomach pain. Sometimes a number of miscreants is caught red-handed with poison in raids, but this illegal work never stops. And all the fishermen who hunt fish legally are in great trouble.

Several fishermen, who did not want to be named, said that unscrupulous fishermen in the areas adjacent to the forest have been hunting fish with poison in various canals including the Bhadra River in the eastern forest division. They said that some corrupt officials and employees of the DoF are helping in this work by taking toll from boats every new moon and full moon.

According to a Dhangmari Station official, “Thief’s work is stealing and our work is guarding the forest. Still, in the last two and a half months, a total of 14 cases have been filed by confiscating fishermen’s nets, boats and accessories during the pass permit ban. Of these, four fishermen have been sent to court.”

Sudeb Kumar Roy, chairman of Banishanta Union in the upazila, said, “The DoF has to play a more pioneering role to protect the biodiversity of the Sundarbans. First, fish hunting by using poison in different rivers, canals and prohibited areas of the forest should be stopped. Besides, hunting of various wild animals including tiger and deer should also be stopped. Fishermen involved in criminal activities should be strictly banned from the forest. But alternative employment or allowance should be provided for them. And strict legal action should be taken against those illegal hunters. Then the environment of Sundarbans will be restored and the biodiversity of the forest will be preserved.”

Dr. Sudeb Bala, upazila health and family planning officer, said, “Eating poisoned fish can usually damage human’s kidneys and liver. If it continues like this for a long time, at some point the kidneys and liver will stop functioning. Different animals can have the same problem by drinking poisoned water.”

In this connection, Joydeb Pal, Khulna District fisheries officer, said, “No fish can enter the canal or reservoir where poison is applied for at least 25 to 30 days. As a result, the normal reproductive activity of fish is severely disrupted. I believe that if the fisheries department, forest department, coast guard and navy should conduct a joint operation. Thus fishing by using poison in Sundarbans will be stopped and this natural fish reserve will be protected.”

In this connection, Rana Deb, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Chandpai Range of East Sundarbans Forest Division, said, “Many fishermen’s boats, along with fish and poison, have been seized so far. Many fishermen have been arrested and sent to the court. Besides, strict legal action will be taken against all the officers and employees who will be found to be involved in it.”