The threat to Bangladesh's river dolphins - abundant gillnets cause concern
Bangladesh's river dolphins are in danger due to the widespread use of gillnets. These nets are meant for catching fish, but they often trap dolphins as well. This has led to a decline in the population of river dolphins, which are now on the verge of extinction. The government has banned these nets, but they continue to be used in abundance. It is important to raise awareness of this issue to save these beautiful creatures.
The widespread use of gillnets means dolphins face a high risk of becoming entangled when they surface to breathe, said Monirul H. Khan, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka. “It becomes impossible for them to avoid the fishing nets,” he said. Under a 2002 law, the manufacture, marketing, import, hoarding, carrying, possession or use of any kind of gillnet is prohibited. The measure is meant to check indiscriminate fishing and killing of aquatic species. But gillnets continue to be widely used by fishers, according to media reports, as they’re highly effective at catching large numbers of fish.
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