Customary legislations and legal issues of Hilsa fisheries (Tenualosa ilisha) in Bangladesh

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) as a national fish contributes enormous economic and nutritional connotation for the upward development of the country. Its supplies 11% of the total fish production of the country. About 2.5 million people have been engaged in fisheries industries. Currently, fish production is declining drastically due to over fishing, unruly misleading ways of management and marketing system. This article scrutinizes the present legal issues of Bangladesh fisheries laws and regulations along with its implications. It is recognized that though some fisheries regulating amendments are existed but the proper implementation is yet lack due to several inadequacy of legislations. The limitations of proper legal accomplishment are due to absence of adequate policy framework and guidelines, non-execution of enactment and conflicts of jurisdictions, reformation of customary laws, revised methods and formation of by-laws, regulations etc. This study reveals some challenges of Hilsa management in Bangladesh and proposes some recommendations to surmount them. Finally, this study enhances the overall improvement of fisheries sectors of Bangladesh utilizing a wide range of legal policy framework and regulations.