Measures to protect Halda paying off

Ahead of every spawning season, miscreants lay snares along the Halda river, the lone natural breeding ground of carp in South Asia. They net brood fish, while other aquatic creatures like dolphins also get stuck and die.

But this year, the scenario has changed totally thanks to multiple measures taken by various government bodies to make sure no trap is laid along river.

The initiative is paying off to protect the unique aquatic ecosystem, as death of dolphins and brood fish has reduced remarkably. No dolphins died this year with only one brood fish found dead in mid April.

Last year, Hathazari Upazila Administration recovered three dead brood fish and two dolphins from the river.

Three key measures have since helped minimise the dangers to aquatic life -- setting up an outpost of River Police, CCTV cameras along the ten kilometres of Halda and declaring Halda as Bangabandhu Heritage.

As the end of April and May are the high time for laying eggs, brood fish have been roaming within the river uninterrupted. The brood fish and dolphins popping up has made the egg collectors and experts hopeful for a great haul of eggs this year.

Halda researcher Prof Dr Manzoorul Kibria told The Daily Star that ahead of every spawning season, poachers lay trap to catch brood fish. This year Halda saw no such illegal activity thanks to the surveillance by River Police, which set up an outpost at Ramdas Munsir Hat area of the river.

"Apart from this, the government has declared the waterbody as Bangabandhu Fisheries Heritage, which obligated the authorities concerned to ban 12 types of activities in Halda including a ban on fishing, sand lifting and water withdrawal," he said.

If natural phenomena like rain also go in our favour and happens in due time, we can expect a big haul, which was the highest ever last year, said the professor.

Prof Kibria said dolphins and brood are sighted regularly in the river, which is a promising indication for aquatic life.

Elias Hossain, an egg collector of Halda river, told The Daily Star that the measures taken by the government intensified their hope to catch a big haul from the river.

"We are fully prepared. Now we are waiting for heavy downpour accompanied by gusty wind and thunderstorm. That will create a favourable environment for the mother fish to lay eggs," he said.