GUWAHATI, May 5 - In view of the fish breeding season, the Directorate of Fisheries, Assam, has instructed all the district fisheries development officers to take necessary action for proper implementation of the Assam Fishery Rules, 1953, that bans catching of fish during the breeding period. Violations of the ban will result in a penalty as per law.
For this, a four-member task force headed by Arup Kumar Das, fisheries development officer, Meen Bhawan, has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the fishing ban period under the Assam Fishery Rules, 1953.
A task force team during a raid on May 2 seized a number of fishing nets at Amingaon.
As per the rule, it is prohibited to use berjal, mohajal, fasijal, etc., having a size less than 7 cm at bar/14 cm (2.7/ 5.5 inch) from April 1 to July 15, both days inclusive in a proclaimed fishery. Again, it is prohibited to catch brooder fishes like rohu, catla, mrigal, calbasu, chitala, gonius and Tor species during the breeding period.
According to sources in the directorate, the restrictions imposed as per the Rules include (i) catching of fish species like rohu, catla, mrigal, chitala, and Tor species of size less than 23 cm (9 inch) and calbasu, gonius, bhangon of size less than 10 cm (3.9 inch), (ii) use of bana of size less than 7 sq. cm (2.7 sq. inch) in natural fishery resources for catching fish, (iii) dewatering the leased-out natural water bodies for catching fish by the lessee, and (iv) retting of jute in a proclaimed fishery by the lessee.
�Any person contravening any of the provisions of the above-mentioned rules will be liable to a penalty which may range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000,� said sources.
A team from the Office of the District Fisheries Development Officer, Kamrup, conducted a sudden raid at Amingaon Post Office Ghat and Ujoni Ghat of the Brahmaputra on May 2 for effective implementation of the fishing ban period. The team was also accompanied by the police force of Amingaon police outpost.
During this operation, 12 fasi jals (mess size of less than 14 cm) were seized under Section 23 (A) 1 & 2 of Assam Fishery Rules, 1953.
During a review meeting held recently, Director of Fisheries PN Das directed officials to ensure strict implementation of fishery rules so that the gravid fish could breed safely and the offspring were also safe in the natural habitat. He appealed for cooperation from NGOs and fishery cooperatives for generating awareness amongst the stakeholders.
