Dibrugarh: Looking to ensure sustainability of fishes across the district, Sivasagar district magistrate Mridul Yadav on Wednesday issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, banning specific fishing activities and gears during the upcoming breeding season.The order, which aligns with the Assam Fishery Rules, 1953, and its 2005 amendment, will come into effect during a three-and-a-half month period between April 1 and July 15, which has been scientifically recognised as the peak breeding season when several indigenous species are most vulnerable.The notification prohibits the use of various nets, including Borjal, Mahajal, Fasijal and Bhorjal, or any type of net with meshes which are less than 7 cm bar or 14 cm mesh. Furthermore, the use of any net with meshes less than two-and-a-half inches square has been strictly banned across all the fisheries in the district.Besides gear restrictions, the order specifically mentions several high-value species, including Rahu (Catla), Mirika (Mrigal), Mali (Calbasu/Koliajara), Chital, Khoria, Pithia (Mahasul), Ghoria and Kuri (Gonius), which cannot be caught or killed during the aforementioned period.Furthermore, the administration warned that any person found flouting these regulations will be punished under Section 223 of the BNS.
