Why is China Duari Jaal called ‘Shaitan Jaal’?
Because once it goes into the water, almost nothing that enters it can get back out. These fine-mesh nets trap small and large fishes, turtles, snakes and even pythons. And the danger is not only to the animals that become trapped. Many of the fish caught are breeding adults, so every net can take away the next generation of fish and disturb the life of the entire wetland.
This is what our team came across in Cooch Behar this monsoon.
Despite the West Bengal Fisheries Department sending a formal directive against the use of China Duari nets across the state in October 2024, the nets continue to find their way into rivers, khaals, beels, ponds and submerged agricultural fields.
To deter the use, from 6–8 August 2026, an 8-member HEAL team led by @ardhendu.banik, our Cooch Behar Zonal Coordinator and Assistant Secretary, supported the Forest Department in a ‘No Compromise’ enforcement operation against these nets.
The team moved through Dowaguri, Khapaidanga, Nayarhat, Konamali, Deuchrai Mor, Harir Hat and Tapurhat checking water bodies, pulling out nets and looking for wetland species caught inside them.
Turtles, venomous and non-venomous snakes, fish of all sizes, breeding adults and even a large Burmese Python was found trapped inside the nets.
By the end of the operation, 27 China Duari nets had been removed from the water and destroyed, so they could not simply be put back in. The Burmese Python was rescued and safely released.
For years HEAL has been consistently monitoring the rapid spread of China Duari nets in central Bengal gathering evidence on how this illegal fishing gear leads to indiscriminate fishing, trapping of juveniles, endangerment of waterbirds, snakes and other wetland fauna.
We are happy to have supported the Forest Department on the ground for this operation and will continue to raise awareness against the nets.
If you find someone using the banned China Duari nets in your area, please immediately contact the forest department or get in touch with us +91 79806 90537, +91 98310 60229, +91 98304 79671, +91 99036 93999