Dept. of Coastal and Marine Fisheries

TRADE-OFF BETWEEN DESTRUCTIVE FISHING GEARS USE AND HILSA SANCTUARIES MANAGEMENT IN THE MEGHNA RIVER ESTUARY OF BANGLADESH

2025-08-12T09:19:32Z

TRADE-OFF BETWEEN DESTRUCTIVE FISHING GEARS USE AND HILSA SANCTUARIES MANAGEMENT IN THE MEGHNA RIVER ESTUARY OF BANGLADESH RAHMAN, MIZANUR This study was conducted to identify the factors that are responsible for widespread use of destructive fishing gears in the Meghna estuary where hilsa sanctuaries were established. Using participatory data collection tools such as individual interviews and focus group discussion, a field work was carried out in four sites located in three districts (Chandpur , Laxmipur and Noakhali )along with Meghna river estuary. The study was conducted in month of July 2016. In field research fifty individual interviews, twelve key informant interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted. The finding of the present study revealed that fishers use different types gears which have some kind of destructive natures, violate the rules of fisheries regulations, of which monofilament net (current jal )is the most prominent gear. Fishers widely use current jal because it is cheaper than conventional gears, easy to operate, higher catch per unit effort to mention a few reasons. The study eliciated a number of factors related to socio economic factors (poverty), political (corruption, political interference ) and environmental factors ( river bank erosion ) are responsible widespread use and unabated continuation of destructive fishing gears in the Meghna river estuary .As a consequence of this practice , the sustainability of estuarine fisheries at stake and dependent fishers become further vulnerable to poverty. More importantly a tradeoff is created where fisheries conservation and livelihoods development seems mutually exclusive. To revert a trade-off and create a win win situation for mitigation of destructive fishing and economic development of dependent fishers, the study calls for effective restriction on destructive gears production and use, comprehensive incentive program for all affected fishers during fishing closures establishment of co-management mechanism for sharing the responsibility and benefits of fisheries management in the Meghna River estuary of Bangladesh

GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF QUICK GROWING SPECIES UNDER MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE SYSTEMS IN THE SEASONAL WATERBODY OF HAOR VILLAGE NOAGAON, SUNAMGANJ

2025-08-10T03:35:13Z

GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF QUICK GROWING SPECIES UNDER MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE SYSTEMS IN THE SEASONAL WATERBODY OF HAOR VILLAGE NOAGAON, SUNAMGANJ Ali, Md. Shukkur The study was conducted to assess the growth, survival and production performance of Thai sarpunti (Puntius gonionotus Bleeker), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Lin.) and rui (Labeo rohita) under monoculture and polyculture systems in 9 farmers’ seasonal ditches over the period of 120 days from January to April 2016. Experimental ditches were cleaned manually and were limed at the rate of 250 kg ha-1 of quicklime (CaO). These were then fertilized with urea and triple supper phosphate (TSP) at the rate of 25 kg ha-1. Nine ditches were divided into three treatments each having three replicates and each ditch was stocked with fish fry/fingerlings at the rate of 40,000 nos ha-1. Stocked fishes were fed with rice bran and wheat flour as supplemental feed at the decreasing rate of 10-5% of total biomass for twice daily. Water quality parameters such as temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity and ammonia were within suitable range for fish culture and any stress did not observe in fishes. The highest average final weight of sarpunti (122.32 g), tilapia (102.58 g) and rui (120.0 g) was obtained in T1, T2 and T3, respectively. It was found that the average weight of sarpunti was decreased with the increases of fish species. The survival of all fish species was found higher in T3 than T1 and T2. Among the treatments food conversion ratio (FCR) of sarpunti was found lower in T1 (1.26) compared to T2 (1.38) and T3 (1.52), respectively. Comparatively higher FCR of tilapia was estimated in T3 (2.12) than that of T2 (1.52). FCR of rui was found lower (1.10) than other two fish species under different treatments. Significantly higher production of sarpunti was secured in T1 (3,446.13 kg ha-1) than T2 (2,942.6 kg ha-1) and T3 (2,804.1 kg ha-1). It was observed that tilapia production was better in T2 (2,786.07 kg ha-1) than T3 (2,172.52 kg ha-1). The combined production of sarpunti, tilapia and rui was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 (8,341.41 kg ha-1) followed by T2 (5,728.67 kg ha-1) and T1 (3,446.13 kg ha-1). The highest cost benefit ratio was achieved in T3 (1.64:1) that of T1 (1.25:1) and T2 (1.30:1). From the results of the present study it may be concluded that polyculture of sarpunti, tilapia and rui in seasonal ditches is the best than other techniques for better fish production as well as for higher economic return in haor areas. Therefore, the polyculture practice of sarpunti, tilapia and rui at a stocking density of 40,000 ha-1 and at a ratio of 2:1:1 may be suggested to disseminate at the fish farmers’ level for boost up fish production in manifolds using the unutilized ditches.

IMPACT OF FISH DIVERSITY ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF FISHERS OF DEKHAR HAOR IN SUNAMGANJ

2025-08-07T10:18:36Z

IMPACT OF FISH DIVERSITY ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF FISHERS OF DEKHAR HAOR IN SUNAMGANJ SURAVI, ISRAT NUR The study was conducted to investigate the impact of fish diversity on the livelihood of fishermen living around the Dekhar haor of Dakshin Sunamganj in Sunamganj during the period of September 2015 to August 2016. It was performed based on field survey and direct fish catch sampling. The primary data were collected from the field survey through questionnaire interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) with different stakeholders. A good number of fishermen (73) were randomly selected in the study area. Key informant interviews were made to cross-check the collected data from the fishermen. A total of 51 fish species were identified belonging to 19 families under 34 genera of 10 groups along with two prawn species, where 23 fish species were categorized as abundant, 10 common and the rest 18 were rare. The most abundant fish were catfishes. Fishing is the main occupation of the fishermen and most of them are engaged in other professions to enjoy better life. About 18-70 years age group was mostly involved with fishing. Family size of the fishermen was consisted with 2-13 persons/family. Around 72.61% and 27.39% fishermen were Muslims and Sonatans, respectively. Most of the fishermen (63%) were able to sign only, 26% were illiterate and 7% had primary education. On the other hand, only 1% and 3% of the fishermen had JSC and SSC education, respectively. The monthly income of the fishermen from fishing was ranged from Tk. 500-5,000 where annual income was varied from Tk. 10,000-100,000. It was recorded that around 38% of the fishermen had medium savings followed by low savings (41%) and high savings (10%). On the contrary 11% of the fishers had no savings. Housing and sanitation conditions of the fishermen were not well developed. It was calculated that 83.56% of fishermen‟s houses were kacha and 16.44% were semi-pakka as well as 79.45% of toilets were kacha while 20.55% was semi pakka toilet. Almost all the fishermen were used tube-well water for drinking. About 54.80, 23.28, 19.18 and 2.74% of fishermen households were dependent on village doctors, kobiraj, paurashava hospital and MBBS doctor, respectively. It was found that 16.44% of fishermen were in joint family and 83.56% were in nuclear family. The majority of the fishers are interested to live separately owing to lower income. The monthly values of Shannon-Weaver diversity (H), Margalef‟s richness (R), Pielou‟s (e) evenness indices and Simpson dominance indices were obtained to be 3.36-3.78, 6.12-8.40, 0.98-0.99 and 0.97-0.98, respectively. Fishermen of the haor area are entirely dependent on capture fishery from the haor for their livelihood. From the results of the study it implies that fish diversity of haor has been decreasing in every year, which is alarming for the country and it would adversely affect the livelihood of the fishermen. Government and other organizations should come forward for taking urgent actions to protect the biodiversity of the haor. Government should create alternative job opportunities for the fishers and should utilize their potential, which will improve their livelihood and fish diversity will be protected and the country will be benefited.

FISHING GEARS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON FISH DIVERSITY OF DEKHAR HAOR UNDER DAKSHIN SUNAMGANJ

2025-08-07T10:12:53Z

FISHING GEARS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON FISH DIVERSITY OF DEKHAR HAOR UNDER DAKSHIN SUNAMGANJ Mia, Mamun A study was conducted to determine the fishing gears used their catch composition, catch per unit effort and effects of fishing gears on fish diversity of Dekhar haor for the period of 12 months from September 15 to August 2016. It was estimated that 51 fish species were belonged to 9 orders under 21 families, 34 genera and 4 genuses. Among the threatened fishes vulnerable (13), endangered (9) and critically endangered (7) were found. The most abundant fish species in the haor were Macrobrachium malcomsonii (ichha), Amblypharyngodon mola (mola), Puntius ticto (titputi), Mystus tengara (tengra), Mastacembelus armatus (baim), Macrognathus pancalus (guchi baim), Nandus nandus (bheda), Glossogobius giuris (baila), etc. A total of 20 types of fishing gears under five major groups such as nets, traps, hooks and lines, wounding gear and fish aggregating devices (FADs) were recorded. During April to November/December, mainly ber jal, current jal, koi jal, jhaki jal, uttar jal, thela jal, khora jal, dharma jal, borshi, hand borshi, Katha fishery and different types of traps (dori, chai, plastic chai, gui, ucha, polo, ronga), hooks and lines (borshi and hand borshi), and wounding gear (koach) were used by the fishermen of the haor. With respect to fishing nets, the highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) 4.67 kg gear-1day- 1 was recorded in ber jal followed by bata jal, khora jal, dharma jal, uttar jal, current jal, koi jal and jhaki jal. The lowest CPUE 1.56 kg gear-1day-1 was obtained in thela jal. Of the traps the highest CPUE (2.3 kg gear-1 day-1) was recorded in borshi followed by polo (1.75 kg), ucha (1.62 kg), hand borshi (0.6 kg), koach (0.36 kg), dori (0.2 kg), bhair (0.17 kg) and ronga (0.12 kg). The lowest CPUE (0.09 kg gear-1day-1) was found in plastic chai in the haor. It was observed that huge amount of fishes were caught by ber jal prior to breeding period and the rare species are damaged through this bulk catch and finally disappear from the haor. Order-wise catch composition of fishes in the haor Cypriniformes (30%) was the most dominant order followed by Perciformes (22%), Siluriformes (22%), Synbranchiformes (8%), Beloniformes (8%), Osteoglossiformes (4%), Clupeiformes (2%), Tetraodontiformes (2%) and Crustaceace (2%). On the basis of species composition, seine net, gill net, cast net, lift net, push net, plastic chai, chai, dori and hand borshi were considered as non-selective gears while koi jal and borshi were found as selective gears. Seine net (ber jal), gill nets (current jal) and lift nets (khora jal) were found to be most detrimental for the fish species among the recorded gears. The study reveals that the availability of fishes of the haor is drastically reduced in every year due to manmade (indiscriminate use of different types of gears, insecticides, pesticides, using complete dewatering technique for catching fish) and natural calamities (drought, flash flood, sand deposit from upstream rivers and canals, rainfall variations, temperature fluctuation). The present situation of fish catching in the haor continues in such a way, the haor would be barren of all kinds of fishes and other organisms. The people living around the haor should come forward to stop the operation of harmful fishing gears round the year. The government and other organizations should take immediately initiatives to protect the biodiversity, ecosystems and mother stocks of the haor for the greater interest of the nation.