A ban on mud crab fishing in the Sundarbans has been implemented for a two-month period started for the commencement of the breeding season. The forest department has already revoked the crab fishing permits of the fishermen, and this prohibition will remain in effect from January 1 to February 29.
Mihir Kumar Do, the forest conservator of the Khulna region, explained that the purpose of this measure is to safeguard mud crabs during their breeding season. He highlighted that crabs lay their eggs in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans in January and February each year, and the ban aims to protect the uninterrupted breeding process of crabs during this critical time.
Coastal mud crab fishermen have been returning from the deep Sundarbans in anticipation of the ban. However, concerns have been raised about sustaining their families during these two months, as fishermen face challenges due to the lack of a government allowance system during the closure period. They are advocating for government assistance to mitigate the financial impact of the ban.
According to information from the Forest Department, the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans, covering 6,017 square kilometers, has a watershed area of 1,874.1 square kilometers, constituting 31.15% of the entire Sundarbans area. The waters of the Sundarbans host 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimp, and 14 species of crabs. The forest department has enforced a 59-day ban on fishermen entering the Sundarbans to catch crabs, aligning with the two-month breeding season for crabs in January and February.
Fishermen were observed returning to the locality from the Sundarbans on Sunday afternoon, navigating boats on the banks of the Kapotaksh and Shakbaria rivers in Koira Upazila, adjacent to the Sundarbans of Khulna. They were seen unloading crab bait, crab baskets, and other supplies from the boats, with some vessels being lifted onto the embankment for repairs.
Mosharraf Hossain, a crab fisherman from Koira village near Sundarbans, expressed his concern, stating, “I have returned to the locality after catching crabs in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans for six consecutive days. I couldn’t catch too many crabs, and there is no saved money to sustain my household during the upcoming shutdown. I am in danger with this situation.”
Abu Musa, another crab fisherman in Koira’s Mathbari area, highlighted that more than five hundred crab boats returned to the locality from the Sundarbans the previous afternoon. He emphasized the financial struggles faced by families during the two-month ban, urging government assistance.
Alamgir Hossain, the General Secretary of Koira Upazila Crab Traders Association, revealed that at least 10 lakh taka worth of crabs are sent to Dhaka from Koira every month. Furthermore, 99% of the crabs exported abroad are sourced from the Sundarbans. During the January-February period, exports drop to zero, leading to unemployment for thousands involved in the industry.
Sources from the forest department indicate that 2,900 boats under the Khulna range, including Baniakhali, Kashiabad, and Kobadak forest stations in Koira, have permission to enter the Sundarbans. The Upazila Fisheries Officer’s office reports 13,526 registered fishermen in Koira, with almost half of them engaged in crab fishing.
Nirmal Kumar, an officer at Kashiabad Forest Station in Sundarbans, explained that crabs lay eggs in January and February, and catching them during this time is easier as they are hungry and eager to eat. Intensified patrolling has been initiated in the Sundarbans to enforce the ban and ensure the protection of mud crab breeding during this crucial period.
