Crackdown on Illegal Fishing in Sonitpur Amid Monsoon Ban

Ongoing Raids Against Illegal Fishing Activities

Tezpur, July 12: In spite of a prohibition enforced by the Sonitpur district authorities on fishing in rivers, wetlands, and canals during the monsoon period, the capture of egg-laden fish persists. Fishermen are using various methods to catch and sell these fish both secretly and openly in local markets.

In response, the Sonitpur district administration, led by District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das, has been actively conducting raids to combat these illegal fishing activities that continue in defiance of the ban.

During a recent operation on Friday, a team from the district's Fisheries Department apprehended a fisherman in the act of netting egg-laden fish in the Brahmaputra River at Tinikhoria Era-suti, located in the greater Bihaguri area of the Borsola constituency.

The operation, overseen by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Jane Alam, resulted in the arrest of Abu Sam, a fisherman from the Notun Sukhori area in Nagaon district. He was caught while fishing from a boat with a net and was found in possession of a significant amount of indigenous fish. He was subsequently handed over to the Bihaguri Police.

Assistant Commissioner Jane Alam confirmed that in addition to Abu Sam's arrest, the team confiscated the wooden boat and fishing net utilized in the illegal activity.

A case has been filed against other individuals involved for breaching the Fisheries Act, as stated by the authorities.

District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das emphasized that the administration acts swiftly upon receiving reports of illegal fishing of egg-laden fish. He also cautioned that legal measures would be taken against vendors found selling such fish in local markets.