A 22-day government ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting of hilsa will come into effect from October 7 in a bid to save mother hilsa during peak breeding season.

The ban will be lifted on October 28, said Iftekhar Hossain, public relations officer of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Thursday.

Read: Govt served legal notice to ban Hilsa export to India in 7 days

The objective of the restrictions on fishing is to protect the mother hilsa which lay eggs during the period.

The ban covers hilsa sanctuaries in six districts-Barishal, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali districts.

The sanctuaries are- 100 km in the Meghna River from Chandpur’s Shatnol to Laxmipur’s Char Alaxandar, 90km in Shahbazpur Channel in Bhola, 100 km in Tentulia River in Bhola, 20 km in Naria and Bhederganj upazila in Chandpur district and 82 km in Hizla, Mehendiganj and Barishal Sadar upazila, Gazaria and Meghna river.

Read: With Hilsa catch declining, Bagerhat fishermen stare at penury

Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country's fish production as the single fish species.