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

Abstract

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