STATUS AND IMPACT OF JATKA CATCHING ON HILSA FISHERY IN THE MEGHNA RIVER AT HIZLA-MEHENDIGANJ REGION OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

To contemplate the Jatka (juvenile Hilsa) catching and its ultimate effects on Hilsa fishery, twelve landing centers of Hizla-Mehendigonj segment of Meghna river were surveyed from January to May for successive years (2004 and 2005). Both mechanized and non-mechanized boats were used to catch Jatka using mainly Trammel net (45% catch) and Purse seine net (35% catch). The number of boats used in Jatka catching was increasing every year in the study area. The maximum catch of Jatka was observed in the month of April at 32.63 mt in 2004 and 23.52 mt in 2005. The daily catch of Jatka by twenty boats ranged from 203.3 to 481.6 kg in April 2004. Considering the Jatka production (51,750 kg) in 2004, the probable production of Hilsa after one year would be 388.14 mt.