The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized an illegal artisanal trawling boat and 5,000 kg of marine fish during a specialized operation in the Bay of Bengal. Eighteen fishermen were also detained during the raid, according to a media release issued on Sunday afternoon.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, a media officer for the Coast Guard, stated that the vessel ‘Sabuj Bangla’ conducted the raid on Saturday night following a tip-off. Upon searching the intercepted trawler, officials recovered fish valued at approximately BDT 520,000.
Following the seizure, authorities removed all illegal trawling gear in the presence of the Senior Fisheries Officer of Cox’s Bazar Sadar. The boat and the fishermen were later released after the owners paid a fine of BDT 520,000 and signed a legal undertaking. The confiscated fish were sold at a public auction, and the proceeds were deposited into the government treasury.
The Coast Guard reaffirmed its commitment to conducting similar operations to protect the nation’s marine resources from illegal fishing.