To conserve and boost marine fish stock, the government this year has decided to impose a ban on fishing by commercial trawlers in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Bay of Bengal for 65 days from May 20.

“Considering safe breeding and conservation of all fishes and crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, cuttlefish etc), fishing by commercial trawlers in Bangladesh's economic zone will be prohibited from May 20 to July 23,” said a fisheries and livestock ministry's press note yesterday.

The press note also added that action would be taken as per the Marine Fisheries Ordinance-1983 and related regulations against those who would violate the ban. 

The EEZ is the sea zone -- 200 nautical miles from its coast -- over which a coastal state has sovereign rights for using and exploring for marine resources, including oil and gas.

The decision of the ban in the EEZ was first taken last year.