Photo: ISPR

CHATTOGRAM, May 13, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Navy has seized 12 boats with illegal nets and fish worth about Tk 18 crore during a raid in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh Navy ship 'BNS Shaheed Farid' intercepted the fishing boats on Monday while patrolling the Cox's Bazar area of the Bay of Bengal, said an ISPR press release today.

During the raid, the Navy team seized 12 fishing boats, 450,000 meters of current nets, 520 behundi nets, 16,000 meters of other nets and 220-kg of fish from the boats. The estimated value of the seized goods is Tk. 18 crore, it said.

The Navy also arrested 61 fishermen during the drive.

In the presence of Executive Magistrate and a representative of Fisheries Department, the seized nets were burned and destroyed in the area adjacent to Ali Akbar Delghat.

The Navy distributed the seized fishes to local orphanage while the arrested fishermen were handed over to local administration.

Bangladesh Navy has been conducting special drives in the sea and the coastal areas to help implement the government's order to ban on all types of fishing by vessels and to prevent the destruction of Jatka (juvenile hilsa) for 58 day to ensuring smooth breeding and production of fish and to conserve marine resources within Bangladesh's maritime boundaries, the release said.

The Navy has been working tirelessly to conserve the country's marine resources, protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable fish production.

During the ongoing operation the Navy seized illegal nets, traps and fishing materials worth of Tk. 193.31 crore.