KHULNA, Nov 15, 2022 (BSS) - Khulna City Corporation (KCC) mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque today urged fish traders not to mix chemicals in shrimp, saying the huge foreign currency earner shrimp sector could not be destroyed because of some vested quarters.

"The country sees significant progress in fisheries sector and shrimp is the second largest foreign currency earner. Stakeholders should remain alert about quality as the country's interest, dignity and reputation is involved with it," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on prevention of chemical mixing in export oriented shrimp.

With the cooperation of Khulna District Administration, the Department of Khulna Fisheries organised the seminar at the Gallyamari fisheries seed production farm with Additional District Magistrate (ADM) S M Munir Linkon in the chair.

The chief guest underscored the need for enhancing fish production through maintaining quality, saying the government has fulfilled protein demands through increasing fish production across the country.

The mayor also asked the law enforcement agencies to take stern actions against dishonest fish traders.

Presenting the key note paper in the seminar, district fisheries officer Joydeb Paul said that the Department of Fisheries has destroyed 24 metric tonnes chemical mixed valuable shrimp in last six months in Khulna.

A total of 65 people have been awarded punishment in different terms in 65 cases and Tk 12 lakh was realized as fine during the time.

Deputy Director (Administration) of the Directorate of Fisheries Sayed Md Alamgir, Deputy Director of Khulna Division Md Tofaz Uddin Ahmed, Quality Assurance Manager of Quality Control Labratory Dr S M Rezaul Karim, Professor of Fisheries and Marine Resources Technology (FMRT) Discipline of Khulna University Dr Khondokar Anisul Haque and Vice-President of Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) S Humayun Kabir, among others, spoke.

Government officials, senior fisheries officers and fisheries officers of nine upazilas, fish farmers, traders and other stakeholders attended the seminar.