A two-month long ban on crab harvesting has been imposed in the Sundarbans to protect the biodiversity and ensure the safety of crabs during their breeding season.

The ban, effective from January 1 to February 29, prohibits any individual or organization from catching, selling, storing or transporting crabs within the rivers and canals of the forest during this period.

The Sundarbans Forest Department announced that this is the breeding season for crabs, which lay eggs and are in a crucial stage of reproduction. Harvesting during this period disrupts their breeding process, upsetting the ecological balance. To preserve the natural harmony, the government imposes this annual ban. Those who violate the ban will face strict legal action under forest laws, with potential imprisonment or fines.

Under the Satkhira Range, around 1,600 boats are authorized to harvest crabs with 2 to 3 fishermen per boat. The ban, however, put around approximately 5,000 crab harvesters and their families in a difficult situation, with no government aid or compensation provided for the two-month suspension of their livelihood. The affected individuals include those who rely on crabbing for their income and their families.

Buriagoalini Forest Station Officer Md. Ziaur Rahman explained that the government has enforced the ban to enhance crab breeding in the rivers of the Sundarbans. The Sheela species of crabs, which are abundant in the rivers of the Satkhira Range, move from the sea to the rivers during this period to lay eggs. To ensure smooth reproduction, patrols have been intensified in the area.

Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of Satkhira Range, Md. Mashur Rahman, emphasized the importance of the crab species, both economically and ecologically.

He stated that crabs are a significant source of foreign currency for the country, and protecting them during the breeding season is essential to maintain the natural food chain of the Sundarbans. If crabs are not protected during this period, it could lead to long-term shortages and adverse effects across the entire forest ecosystem.

The local community and crab harvesters have been urged to comply with the ban, as it is necessary for the region`s ecological balance. However, despite the difficulties faced by the local fishermen, there has been no government provision of support or compensation.

When asked how the affected families would cope during the two-month ban, ACF Mashur Rahman acknowledged the hardship but reiterated that the ban is part of government policy aimed at ensuring the forest`s sustainability.

He also mentioned that no financial aid had been provided yet, but should any such support become available, it would be distributed to the affected individuals.

Under the Satkhira Range, around 1,600 boats are authorized to harvest crabs, with 2 to 3 fishermen per boat, totaling approximately 5,000 crab harvesters and their families who are directly impacted by the ban.