Guwahati, 4th July: Despite stringent restrictions imposed by the fisheries department, a group of fish traders in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, specifically in Gossaigaon, have been caught illegally fishing in rivers and selling their catch in the market.
Acting on orders from the Kokrajhar District Fisheries Development Officer, officials recently conducted raids in the Gossaigaon sub-divisional daily markets. These raids aimed to curtail the illegal sale of pona fish and other fish harvested from local water bodies.
Traders were directed to cease such activities until July 15. Efforts are also being made to raise public awareness about the issue. Badiyur Zaman Fakir, a fisheries exhibitor, highlighted that fishing in rivers and ponds with any nets or fishing equipment is strictly prohibited during the breeding season from April 1 to July 15, as per the Assam Fisheries Policy.
The regulation is in place to protect fish colonies during this critical period. However, despite clear guidelines, some individuals continue to flout the rules. The fisheries department is actively working to enforce these regulations and prevent further illegal fishing. They have urged the public to comply with the restrictions to ensure the sustainability of fish populations in the region.
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