A team of the State fisheries department led by its Director Swapan Kumar Das, conducted a raid on violators of fishing restrictions during the breeding season in areas near the Digaru and Kolong rivers on the city outskirts on Wednesday. Ten various types of fishing nets of banned specifications, besides banned fish-catching appliances were seized during the raid. The restriction bans catching of brood fish (fish carrying eggs and sperm) during the breeding season. An awareness camp was also held at the Gowardhan market for disseminating information on the do’s and don’ts during the restrictions imposed on fishing and creating mass awareness. Fishery Officer Dhrubajyoti Sarma, who held the interactive session with the villagers, said that the people’s response to the department’s appeal was encouraging. More and more people are becoming aware of the need to restrict fishing in various natural water-bodies like rivers, beels, lakes and streams during the breeding season. We explained the pros and cons of the Assam Fisheries Rules-1953 to the people, especially those whose livelihood is linked to fishing and related practices, Sarma told The Assam Tribune. The members of the fishery department team included besides Sarma, Anushree Das, Ajgar Hussain and Poziruddin Ahmed. Violations of the prohibitory orders on fishing restriction during the breeding season have been common across the State. Conservationists are worried that unchecked catching of fish in their breeding season stands to jeopardise the fish progeny. The rule also bans catching of brood fish (fish carrying eggs and sperm) species like rohu, bahu, mrigal, mali, chital, kharia, puthi, gharia, kurhi, etc.