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Published : 14 May 2026, 01:44 AM
Parshe Piracy: Cost of the Catch
Ecological devastation: For every single parshe fry caught, over 400 other aquatic organisms are wiped out, ravaging the Sundarbans’ biodiversity
‘Jungle syndicate’: Armed with banned nets, organised criminal groups bypass forest patrols to supply fry to thousands of coastal enclosures
Enforcement failure: Despite a total fishing ban, corruption and "managed" checkpoints allow trawlers to transport illegal hauls with ease.
At the break of day in the labyrinth of rivers and creeks that thread the Sundarbans, long, dense mosquito-mesh nets are lowered into the brackish water.
What rises from these nets is not only the fragile fry of the parshe -- a prized species for shrimp farming -- but also the quiet depletion of an ecosystem already under severe strain.
Despite a government prohibition, the illegal collection of parshe fry continues unabated in the Sundarbans’ rivers and canals.
The use of a mesh locally known as “Behundi Jal” -- ultra-fine nets banned by authorities -- means that along with parshe fry, vast numbers of juvenile fish, shrimp larvae and other aquatic organisms are indiscriminately destroyed.
Conservationists say this is accelerating biodiversity loss in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
According to the Khulna-based Paikgachha Brackishwater Centre under the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, the ecological cost is staggering: for every single parshe fry collected, at least 119 shrimp larvae, 312 plankton organisms and 31 fish fry of other species are destroyed in the process.
The Sundarbans, spanning 6,017 sqkm in Bangladesh with 1,874 sqkm of water channels, hosts 210 species of white fish, 24 shrimp species and 14 crab species, making it one of the most biologically diverse estuarine ecosystems in South Asia.
Yet this abundance is under pressure from both human activity and environmental stress.
Researchers and officials point to overfishing, climate change, pesticide runoff and reduced dissolved oxygen levels as key drivers of declining fish stocks.
A joint survey -- EAF-Nansen Survey 2025 conducted by the fisheries and livestock ministry, the FAO and Norway -- found that fish stocks in the Bay of Bengal have dropped by nearly 78 percent since 2018.
Small pelagic fish such as sardines, hilsa, mackerel and others have sharply declined.
A Year-round Illegal Network
The most active period for parshe fry collection runs from December to March, though December and January are officially fishing-ban months inside the Sundarbans. Even so, harvesting continues during the prohibition period.
Environmentalists, forest workers and fishermen say a well-organised “jungle syndicate” operates throughout the year, controlling collection routes deep inside protected areas.
They allege that some corrupt forest personnel and security staff are involved, helping fry move from the forest to coastal shrimp farms.
Forest-dependent resident Samad Sheikh from Moheshwaripur Union said demand is intense across Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira. “There are 20 to 25 groups active in catching parshe fry inside the Sundarbans,” he said.
Key harvesting zones include Alorkol, Dublar Char, Bangabandhu Char, Batlurchar, Nerali, Kalarmatha, Majher Gora, Manikkhali, Nilbari, Narikelbaria, Teer Char, Agunjwala and Mujzat areas.
Fishing is carried out using fast trawlers carrying eight to 10 fishermen each, equipped with fine-mesh nets that function like mosquito nets. Each trawler operates in sanctuary rivers where entry is officially prohibited.
Locals say forest department “brokers” often alert fishermen before enforcement raids.
“As soon as signals are received, they flee into the forest. After the raid ends, they return to fishing again,” Samad said.
He added that a single haul can yield 2 to 3 maunds of fry, while trawlers returning every two days carry 7 to 8 maunds to the Shibsa River. From there, the fry are transported openly past the Nalian Forest Office towards fish markets in Paikgachha, Dakop and Mongla.
At the Nalian Forest Office, trawlers reportedly pass without obstruction, raising concerns among conservationists about enforcement lapses.
He also alleged that fry consignments moving through the Shibsa River are “managed” at forest stations and camps.
In Paikgachha, particularly under the bridge’s southern side, fry are sold openly in markets. Prices range from Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,500 per kilogram depending on size.
Forest officials reject these allegations. Nalian Station officer Mobarak Hossain said, “There is constant monitoring and patrol in my area. There is no scope for illegal fry collection or unauthorised entry. Since I joined, such trawlers have been completely stopped.”
Destination: Shrimp Enclosures
According to the Department of Fisheries, Khulna Division alone has 185,204 shrimp enclosures across Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira, all of which require seasonal fry supply.
Deputy Director Bipul Kumar Basak described parshe fish as a highly valued, protein-rich species with no harmful fat content. Farmers often cultivate it alongside shrimp due to its high market value and low risk.
Typically, the parshe grow to 150–200g in aquaculture ponds within seven to eight months. They can be marketed even at 40–80g.
However, Basak said farmers still depend heavily on wild fry. Parshe spawn naturally in brackish water during December to February, particularly in peak breeding cycles in late December and late February. The species is highly reproductive, with populations doubling within 15 months.
Despite its importance, officials admit regulatory blind spots. “We cannot conduct operations inside the Sundarbans without direct permission,” he said.
Shrimp farmer Aminul Islam, who owns a 33.45-hectare enclosure in Paikgachha, said he regularly stocks parshe fry alongside shrimp.
“It is a tasty fish with strong demand nationwide. The profit is good,” he said.
However, he declined to disclose exact quantities, saying he relies on intermediaries.
Hidden Syndicates
Environmental activists say the system is sustained by powerful local interests.
Tarik Litu, president of the Koyra Journalists Forum, said influential “jungle traders” operate by managing access to forest authorities.
Obaidul Kabir Samrat, media coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, warned that corruption has weakened forest governance.
“Forest officials and guards are increasingly engaged in bribery networks. In areas like Koyra, Dakop and Shyamnagar, several syndicates operate with forest insiders,” he said.
“Others exist in Mongla, Sharankhola and Morelganj. Some staff remain in the same postings for years, enabling collusion.”
Enforcement Claims
Assistant Conservator of Forests Dipon Chandra Das of the Chandpai Range said all fishing is banned in the Sundarbans and enforcement is ongoing. He said several trawlers carrying parshe fry were recently seized.
Khulna Chief Conservator Imran Ahmed acknowledged challenges but said officials were actively arresting illegal entrants and confiscating banned nets and pesticide-contaminated fish.
Yet on the waterways of the Sundarbans, the nets continue to rise -- and with them, an ecosystem quietly slipping away.
