BARISAL, Nov 2 (UNB): A seven-month ban on catching 'jatka' or hilsha fry (less than 9 inch or 23 cm in length) from November 1 to May 31 began in all the hilsha regions of the country Sunday.

Abdul Aziz, deputy director and Bankim Chandra, assistant director of Barisal office of Fisheries department said hilsha fries develop 2-2.5 cm in length each in a month and start moving seawards after reaching 15-17 cm in length and start their return journey to sweet water rivers when they are about 25-28 cm in length and of 300-450 grams in weight for laying eggs.