Illegal fish coming from Bangladesh

Committee recommends constituting Task Force

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) of the Assam Legislative Assembly, in its 24th report on the State Fisheries Department, recommended that the department should constitute a Task Force to stop illegal fish from being brought into the State from Bangladesh, especially in Bangladesh bordering districts, with support from the district administration.

In its 23rd report last year, the Committee observed that fish from Bangladesh were illegally coming into the State through different routes, especially in the bordering districts, affecting the market value of locally produced fish. The Committee recommended the Fisheries Department to look into the matter and take necessary steps to stop such illegal practices.

The Fisheries Department, while considering the importance of the issue, instructed the District Fishery Development Officers of all districts, especially the bordering districts of Assam and Bangladesh like Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj and Dhubri, to examine the matter related to fish coming illegally from Bangladesh and to take necessary initiatives to stop such illegal practices in coordination with the respective district administration.

Most of the districts reported that illegal fish from Bangladesh could not be detected but Cachar district has reported action like seizing of such illegal fish in some markets. Few other districts intimated that periodic visits to the markets and trading points with Custom officials would be helpful to keep a record and to stop such illegal practices.

In its 24th report, the Committee observed that based on the previous year's recommendation, illegal fish coming into the State from Bangladesh had been controlled to some extent, but had not been fully stopped. Hence, the Committee this time recommended constituting a Task Force.

Assam produced 3.93 lakh MT fish in 2020-21 while the fish production in 2021-22 is anticipated to be around 4.32 lakh MT. Yet, Assam has to import 12-15 MT fish every day from other States to meet its daily fish requirement.

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