The Cabinet of Bangladesh on Monday approved a proposal to increase the number of trawlers (engine-driven boats) in the exclusive economic zone of the Bay of Bengal to ensure smooth, sustainable and tolerable extraction of sea fish resources.
The approval of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
According to the decision taken at the meeting, 15 more mid-water trawlers and 10 more long-liner trawlers will be given permission to operate to ensure sustainable and smooth sea fish extraction.
Confirming the matter, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyantold reporters that thosenot operating the trawlers as per the law would be given further time to fulfill the criteria.
He said the Cabinet approved the proposal and gave some specific directives on issuing licenses to trawlers for operation.
The Cabinet directed the ministry concerned to formulate an updated and comprehensive policy on sea fish extraction by removing any inconsistency in the current policy.
He said sea fish resources are extracted in three tiers up to 40 metres depth from the coastline where normal fishing boats operate, from 40 metres to 200 metres of depth where mid-water trawlers operate, and from 200 metres of depth to the exclusive economic zone where long-liner trawlers run.
The Cabinet secretary said 299 licensed trawlers were currently operating in the second and third tiers with permissions from the government and the High Court.
He also said the licenses of those trawlers will be cancelled,which fail to fulfill the criteria within the given time.
The meeting was informed that about 54.6 million metric tons of sea fish resources were extracted during the 2010-2011 fiscal in which 91% contributions came from small trawlers.
The Cabinet was apprised of the participation of the Bangladesh delegation led by Foreign Minister DrDipuMoni at Bangladesh’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council held at Geneva from April 29 to May 2 last.
At the review meeting, 196 suggestions on different issues were placed in which 134 were accepted by Bangladesh while the remaining, including the suggestion on getting rid of the death penalty and formal approval of homosexual relations were discarded.
The foreign minister had discarded these proposals considering the socioeconomic and religious values of the country, he said.
The Cabinet was also informed about the participation of Bangladesh delegation led by Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the fifth Ministerial level Bali Process meeting in resisting human trafficking, illegal immigration, refugees and inter-state crimes held in Indonesia from April 1-2.
Besides, the Cabinet was also informed about the participation of the Bangladesh delegation in the 39th meeting of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on April 26 held at London, visits of Bangladesh delegation to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from June 19-22 and on June 18 respectively.
2013 Dhaka Tribune