All fishing vessels in the sea must obtain a registration number. Boats should be painted in special colours. So that the ships of Bangladesh can be distinguished even from a distance. The Cabinet approved the draft ‘Marine Fisheries Policy, 2022’ containing such provisions. The Cabinet has also directed to implement this decision within the next four months.
The draft was approved in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (25 July). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting through video conference from Ganobhaban. Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam briefed the journalists after the meeting.
Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said, ‘Some Myanmar boats are entering the sea at our border. Among the 20-40 thousand boats, it is difficult to identify a boat from the outside. Indian boats have a special colour and registration number. We don’t have it. In this case, the Cabinet has given instructions to arrange the registration numbers as soon as possible.;
The Cabinet Secretary said that within the next four months, the boats or ships that will go to sea will have to have colours and numbers. There is a discussion about whether the colour can be red-green. The Fisheries Department will look into the technical issues.
He also said, ‘A policy has been made according to the Marine Fisheries Act. 20 organisations have been given various responsibilities. So that we can bring the marine fisheries within a system.’
The Secretary said, ‘It is difficult to register the number of boats that are used for fishing in the sea immediately. So at this moment, a number will be given by colouring. So that at least they can be identified.’
