| dc.description.abstract | 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. | en_US |
