In the Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest, a two-month prohibition on crab harvesting has been put in place during the aquatic animal’s breeding season.
From January 1 to February 28, the Department of Forests will enforce the prohibition on the rivers in the Sundarbans’ west and south divisions.
According to Khulna Forest Conservator Mihir Kumar Doe, who spoke to BSS, crabs are a significant source of foreign exchange earnings.
On behalf of the department of forest, all sorts of necessary measures were adopted to boost crab breeding. The fishermen were given instruction to debar them from harvesting crabs during the breeding season strictly, he added.
According to Mihir Kumar, 31 percent of the 6,017 square kilometer Bangladesh portion of the Sundarbans is made up of water, with 1,874 square kilometers making up the water area.
There are 14 crab species, 24 shrimp species, and 210 fish species in the aquatic region of the Sundarbans.
Crabs breed over the two months of January through February. Therefore, each year, the Department of Forests suspends authorization for crab harvesting.
Ziaur rahman, Station Forest Officer at Burigoalini under Satkhira Range, said crabs laid more eggs in January and February and huge sheela species crabs are found in different rivers in Satkhira range.
During the breeding season, crabs in flocks appeared to the rivers from sea and lay eggs abundantly.
