During a moratorium on the catching of the Hilsa fish, the district administration sets up mobile courts: Anyone associated with illegal Hilsa catching, hoarding or trading, is handed an instant imprisonment or pay a fine.

The rule is to hand over the confiscated fish to old homes, orphanages and rehab centres. There is also the system of pouring kerosene on the fish to render it uneatable and bury it underground.
But many fishermen still catch the fish late at night and sell it going from home to home before sunrise. From Oct 9 dawn till Oct 31, the government has banned Hilsa catching at 6 sanctuaries and rivers where the fish is found.
At the same time, Hilsa transportation, preservation and selling are banned. This is done to allow the Hilsa to release eggs at ease. At this time, Hilsa comes to the sweet water from the sea to release eggs.
To prevent illegal fishing the district administration, coast guard and river police carry out regular drives, confiscating a large amount of fish.
The captured Hilsa is given away to madrasas and orphanages, says district administrator of Patuakhali.
The impounded nets are burnt, he added.
Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Majedur Rahman Khan said: “The confiscated fish is given to orphanages and madrasas and those which are not edible are buried.”