The 710 km of Bangladesh’s coastline is home to one of the most plentiful fishing grounds in Asia. The marine life is diverse here and fisheries have helped secure enough food and supported the country’s economy.

Today, with the climate crisis growing and marine habitats more at risk, people are focusing on a major concern:

How will sustainable marine fishing develop in Bangladesh in the future?

The Bay of Bengal is under a lot of stress, partly because it is being overused and also due to climate problems. Within 10 years, decisions will shape whether we protect the ocean or harm it further.

In this article, we discuss the challenges that need to be overcome, the opportunities yet to be explored and a pathway for Bangladesh to become a leader in sustainable marine fisheries.

Why Marine Fishing Matters in Bangladesh?

While rivers play a big role in the country, our seafood is mainly tied to the Bay of Bengal. Marine fishing goes beyond being a job near the coast in Bangladesh. It boosts nutrition, creates jobs and increases the amount of money brought in by exports.               

1. Rural Employment and Coastal Livelihoods

o More than 500 000 fishers use 68 000+ mechanised boats and trawlers, yet that’s just one side of the story. Adding to this, marine value chain jobs for deck hands, net makers, boatbuilders, ice plant workers, traders and processors helps employ 2.5–2.8 million people.

In numerous chars and island communities, fishing and the fish trade are responsible for 70 % of the total cash income of each household. More and more women are becoming involved—according to the UN FAO, one in five people working in shrimp grading and drying operations are women.

2. Foreign Exchange Earner

Marine products such as frozen shrimp, cephalopods and finfish, generated $566 million in FY 2023, accounting for around 9 % of the total agri export revenue. Any extra tonne that meets sustainability and traceability standards has a chance to fetch higher prices in the EU, U.S. and Japan.

3. Food Security Shock Absorber

Should inland ponds flood or paddy fields dry out, the rise in marine landings ensures people get enough protein. Farming in Egypt continuously provides enough food for 170 million people who live in a region at great risk of climate change.

Yet this lifeline is fraying. Key species are showing a decrease in biomass, climate change is making their migration routes different and almost one in four catches is lost after the fish are caught. If fish supplies continues to decrease, it could become too expensive for low income families, leading to less good nutrition and job losses for people living near the sea.

4. A key element of the National Plate

Roughly 20% of Canada’s fish production relates to marine species, providing people with almost 820 000 tonnes of edible protein every year.

60 percent of animal protein in Bangladesh is provided by fish. Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali, both coastal areas, experience water rise of more than 75 %.

Hilsa, tuna, ribbonfish and Bombay duck are traditional dishes that feature in celebrations across Bangladesh.

All in all, looking after marine fisheries is not only important for nature but also for the economy, culture and public health. How things are managed in the next five years could determine if the Bay of Bengal still has food to offer or if all its resources are gone.

The Top Obstacles to Sustainable Marine Fishing in Bangladesh

1. Overfishing & Depleting Stocks

Using mechanized vessels without rules has made it difficult for these species to be managed properly.

As per the Department of Fisheries (DoF), over sixty percent of marine fishing vessels operate without scientific limits on catches.

Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) catch is another major threat to the ocean.

• Nearly half of the industrial trawlers operating in the fishing industry do not have a valid license.
  • Hilsa biomass slipped 28 % between 2014 2023.

2. Climate Change Impact

Due to increasing sea temperatures, acidic oceans and unusual weather, fish movement and breeding times are changing which makes it hard to predict fishing results. Since 1990, Bay surface temperatures have been increasing by 0.19 °C every decade, causing migratory fish like Indian mackerel to move farther south during peak seasons.

3. Bycatch & Destructive Fishing Practices

Taking juvenile fish and using high-quality nets and bottom trawling have negatively affected many species in the oceans. Bottom trawling makes up almost one-third of fishing activities but collects less than one-sixth of the total revenue, while also harming coral in the process.

4. A lack of necessary infrastructure & insufficient cold chain facilities

Since there is no proper place to store or process seafood, more than 25% of catches are wasted which affects both fishers and seafood exports. Only 12 of the 122 coastal landing centers currently operate ice plants. Some of the businesses transport block ice from Khulna or Chittagong which costs 6 8 tk/kg.

5. Weak Policy Enforcement

Even with the Marine Fisheries Ordinance and National Fisheries Policy, it is still difficult to enforce laws at sea because of insufficient manpower, patrol boats and monitoring tools.

The Marine Fisheries Act requires a 65-day peak season ban, but in the 2024 peak, foreign vessels reportedly committed 173 unauthorized incursions. The revenue lost by local fishers is estimated to be around ৳2.1 bn.

Chances to Build a Solid Foundation for Tomorrow

Even with the hardships, Bangladesh is on the verge of change. Here’s how:

1. Adoption of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM)

• Using ecology to guide fisheries rather than focusing only on how many species are caught.
  • Improving the health of oceans and maintaining a balanced diversity among living things.

2. Strengthening Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

• Increasing the size of no-fishing areas during the times when fish are spawning.
  • Keeping coral beds, mangroves and nursery grounds safe so fish can be restocked by nature.

As of now, territorial waters are covered by MPAs to the tune of 3.4 %. global best practice is ≥ 10 %. The World Bank suggests that if scaling reaches 10%, it could result in an additional US $190 m in annual fish landings by 2035.

3. Setting scientifically reviewed quotas

Such surveys can lead to specific limits for particular species.

• Strengthening the health of key species and permitting them to continue producing food.

The national stock assessment for 2023 has significantly transformed the process. For the first time, scientists have prepared biomass estimates for 65 commercial species. The use of dynamic quotas could result in a 22 % drop in effort and lead to higher long-term landings by 14 %.

4. Sustainable Fishing Gear & Techniques

• Encouraging the use of circle hooks, nets with large mesh and escape panels.
  • Teaching fishers how to choose the right fish so as to avoid catching others unintentionally.

Within six months, using fine mesh nets instead of 50 mm square cod ends reduced juvenile mortality and increased fishers’ income by 11 %.

5. Community-Based Co-Management

• Supporting community-based fisher groups in the planning and care of local water bodies.
  • Supporting the idea that those using the ocean should take care of it.

6. Blue Economy Integration

Expanding the Blue Economy can lead to more success in marine fisheries.

• Providing employment opportunities in marine aquaculture, tourism, seaweed farming and offshore fish farming.

The Road Ahead: What Needs to Be Done

For Bangladesh’s fisheries to be successful in the future, we need an overall strategy that deals with economic, environmental and social concerns.

1. Replace old marine policies with new ones that are made for climate change resilience.
2. Collect catch information in real time with the help of digital tools.
3. Support the construction of new marine infrastructure and encourage more research in this area.
4. Increase the variety of education and preparation for young people and fishers.
5. Cooperate with other countries in the Bay of Bengal on resources shared by all.

The process of sustainable marine fishing in Bangladesh has its own set of problems. However, if smart decisions, strong communities, and a drive for innovation are made, the benefits will be enormous.

We should ensure that our seas are rich in life, not only for our time but also for the future.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post The future of sustainable marine fishing in Bangladesh: challenges & opportunities appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

The massive fish was caught earlier in the morning by fishermen from Pabna near the river stretch between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Aricha in Manikganj. According to locals, fisherman Jamal Pramanik and his team from Dhalarchar in Aminpur upazila, Pabna, had gone fishing by boat and cast their net in the river close to the border areas of Rajbari and Manikganj. Around 10:30 AM, they felt a heavy tug in the net and upon pulling it up, discovered the huge Katla.

Jamal and his team brought the Katla fish to Daulatdia ghat of Padma river around 11:30 AM and put it up for auction at the wholesale fish market owned by Momin Mondol. Sohel Molla emerged as the highest bidder, purchasing the fish for Tk 1,500 per kilogram.

While a public awareness event on hilsa conservation was being held at nearby ferry terminal 6, crowds of curious locals and traders gathered at Sohel Molla’s Sumaiya Fish Depot near terminal 5 to catch a glimpse of the prized catch.

Masud Molla, Sohel’s business partner, said, “This is one of the few large Katla fish caught this season. Sohel bought it at Tk 1,500 per kg, totaling around Tk 40,000. We’ve kept it in our depot and are contacting interested buyers over the phone. We hope to sell it for at least Tk 42,000, with a margin of Tk 100–150 per kg.”

Rajbari District Fisheries Officer Md Nazmul Huda commented on the catch, saying, “Such large fish are usually found in deep river pockets. Due to the lowering water levels, areas like Kushahata have turned into shallow basins, making them hotspots for catching big fish like pangas, katla, and rui. This is great news for local fishermen and traders.”

The post Massive 26-kg Katla fish from Padma river sold for Tk 40,000 in Rajbari appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

The committee, led by Dr. Mohammad Sohrab Ali, Additional Director-General of the Department of Environment, and Alamgir Kabir, Senior Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department, conducted a site visit on January 30. They collected water samples from Shatnol, Babu Bazar, Mohanpur, and Eklashpur for further laboratory analysis in Dhaka.

Declining Water Quality and Industrial Pollution Identified as Key Causes

Preliminary water tests indicate that pollution and deteriorating water quality are the main factors behind the mass fish deaths. The pH level in the river has dropped to 6–6.5 ppm, compared to the normal range of 7.5–9 ppm. Ammonia levels, which should be around 0.1 ppm, have risen to 0.2 ppm or higher. Oxygen levels, essential for aquatic life, have plummeted from the ideal 5–5.5 ppm to a dangerously low 1–1.5 ppm.

Experts suspect that chemical waste from factories in Narayanganj and Munshiganj districts is contaminating the Meghna River, disrupting its delicate ecosystem and severely affecting fish populations. The pollution has also altered the migratory path of the prized hilsa fish, a staple of Bangladesh’s seafood industry.

Fishermen Struggle as Livelihoods Collapse

For nearly a month, fishermen from villages along the Meghna River, including Shatnol, Malopara, Babu Bazar, Dashani, Mohanpur, Hashimpur, and Zahirabad, have been unable to catch fish. Native species such as chewa, puti, shrimp, pangash, kachki, boicha, and belye have been found floating dead, along with other aquatic life like frogs, leeches, and snakes.

Local fishermen report extreme financial hardship due to their inability to work. “We have taken loans from NGOs to buy boats and nets, but now we cannot even afford to pay the installments,” said Pradip Chandra, a struggling fisherman. “Our families are going hungry.”

Urgent Action Needed to Protect Bangladesh’s Fisheries Sector

Senior Fisheries Officer Vijay Kumar emphasized the need for immediate intervention to prevent further damage to fish stocks and the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen. Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, stressed the importance of addressing industrial pollution to restore the Meghna River’s water quality.

This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter environmental regulations, improved wastewater treatment, and sustainable fisheries management to protect Bangladesh’s aquatic resources. Without swift action, the nation’s seafood sector and coastal communities face devastating long-term consequences.

The post Mass fish deaths in Meghna River spark investigation and concerns for fisheries sector appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

According to the study “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture” released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Bangladesh has surpassed China to become the second-largest producer of freshwater fish in the world.

The report used data from 2022, which is released every two years. The ranking is determined by the quantity of fish caught from natural bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands. 

The study states that in numerous countries, notably large aquaculture producers such as China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, aquaculture production has consistently exceeded capture fisheries for a couple of years.

Countries with significant waterbodies or river basins tend to have a higher concentration of production from inland fishing. India, China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are the leading producers of inland fish in Asia, collectively contributing to around 66% of the worldwide inland fisheries production.

China lost its position as the leading producer of inland water since 2020. In 2022, India and Bangladesh exceeded it in terms of catches, with 1.9 million tonnes and 1.3 million tonnes, respectively. Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s ranking in fish harvested from ponds and confined waterbodies has declined from third to fifth position.

In 2023, Bangladesh’s fish production reached a grand total of 4.8 million tonnes. This consisted of 3.2 million tonnes from fish aquaculture and 1.3 million tonnes from open water bodies. In 2023, the entire production of hilsa fish from open water bodies amounted to 0.65 million tonnes, which accounted for half of the fish caught.

The condition of inland capture fisheries and its impact on food security, livelihoods, and economies are fundamentally reliant on inland aquatic habitats. Due to Bangladesh’s conservation efforts and the prohibition of fishing during the mating season, fish production has significantly grown, thanks to the country’s abundant aquatic resources.

In addition, Bangladeshi scientists have successfully devised artificial breeding and sophisticated farming methods for 40 of the 261 fish species that inhabit the open waterbodies of the country. These techniques are facilitating the growth of fish output in ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Nevertheless, the government has established more ambitious objectives to achieve a fish production of 6.5 million tons by 2030 and 8.5 million tonnes by 2041.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

The post Bangladesh surpasses projections, ranks 2nd in the world for freshwater fisheries appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

In Hakaluki Haor, there are around 150 kinds of freshwater fish, 120 species of aquatic plants, and 20 species of reptiles. Every winter, over 200 uncommon migrating bird species congregate here. Hakaluki Haor is an excellent resource for the growth of the tourist sector, sustainable development, and biodiversity preservation.

Out of 281 bills of Hakaluki Hawr, 233 bills have been fully and partially filled, according to the Perspective-2009 survey. On an area of around 18,000 hectares, Hakaluki Haor produces about 15,000 tons of fish annually. In the Haor region of Moulvibazar, around half of its output occurs. But recent year, there are comparatively less fish being captured in Haor. According to those in the know, the filling of Haor’s bill, the bill’s dehydration, and the absence of permanent shelter are all contributing factors to the fishery’s progressive decline in production. They are also expressing concern over the start of the year’s decline in fish capture. The amount of water in the bills is diminishing as a result of decreased rainfall brought on by climate change. Fisheries and biodiversity in Haor are quickly diminishing as a result of the filling of Haor’s bill, the bill’s dehydration, and the absence of permanent shelter, inadequate planning, and inadequate management.

In order to preserve the fisheries and biodiversity of the ecologically vulnerable Hakaluki Haor as a permanent sanctuary, the government passed eighteen measures in 2010 and 2011. Eight of these bills remain as of right now, out of the eighteen that were deemed asylum cases. These eight Abhayashram Bills cover a mere 160 hectares. Koyarkona, Maiajuri, Nimu, Tekuni, Tolar, Agdar, Maichla Dak, and Kangli Gobar Kuri Bill are all permanent fish sanctuaries. Just 160 hectares of the 4,000 hectare Bill of Haor provide extremely inadequate cover. Through a revenue sector project, the Department of Fisheries has finished the sanctuary’s fisheries conservation program in last year. The shelters’ tough reputation has altered as a result.

Fish production and aquatic life diversity in Hakaluki will rise if appropriate measures are taken to excavate these fish sanctuaries, expand the number of sanctuaries, and safeguard the sanctuaries. Additionally, fishermen should be encouraged to refrain from taking fish in Haor entirely during the fish breeding season for a set amount of time. In the same manner that government departments collaborate to safeguard the Hilsa, they should also collaborate to safeguard the Haor. Only then will Hakaluki Haor be spared, and the lives of thousands of people living along the Haor will be improved.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post It is imperative to conserve fish biodiversity of Hakaluki Haor appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

The Marine Fisheries Association states that Bangladesh’s economic zone in the Bay of Bengal is around 119 thousand square kilometers or almost the same as the country’s land area ( which is roughly around 148,000 square kilometers). But beyond the study’s scope, the majority of the marine area remains undiscovered.

Currently, fish are caught in four deep water regions: South Patches, South of South Patches, Middle Ground, and Swatch of No Ground. The distance between the shoreline and these offshore locations is around 100 km. It takes around 18 hours to get to these locations from the coastal zone.

According to a study, Bangladesh’s fishing zone is confined to 40-60 meters of depth due to a lack of proper fishing gear and smaller fishing vessels.

In the fiscal year 2020–21, around 231 of the 262 industrial fishing trawlers were in operation, according to the Fisheries Department Annual Report 2020–21. In addition to this, traditional fishing in the Bay of Bengal was carried out by 67,669 artisanal and automated boats.

Mechanized boats transporting ice cubes frequently fish at a contour depth of 40 meters for seven to nine days.

The industrial trawlers however can go a little bit deeper than that, but not as deep to catch open ocean high-value fishes(pelagic tuna/Scombridae, mackerel, Indian salmon/Polynemidae, etc. Despite being available in deeper waters, these species are therefore, rarely seen in Bangladeshi fish catches.

So, why can’t Bangladesh engage in deep-sea fishing?

Deep-sea fishing necessitates a larger initial expenditure as well as periodic costs. Hence, deep-sea fishing is often more costly than coastal trawling. 

The increasing expense of fishing, along with scattered and overlapping resources, inhibits fishermen from participating in this activity. 

According to Nurul Qayyum Khan, president of the Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association, despite the government’s permission for private companies to harvest tuna fish in two phases, no firms have applied as a result of a lack of understanding.

A large portion of the deep water remains undiscovered simply because of a lack of sophisticated ships, he claimed.

However, the Department of Fisheries aims to acquire two ships from China for BDT 240 million. It intends to catch tuna with a longline. This experimental endeavor will continue with a crew of 30.

The project was originally scheduled to run from July 2020 to December 2023, however, it was recently extended to June 2025, an additional 18 months.

According to the Department of Fisheries, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission regulates tuna fishing in the region. Bangladesh joined the commission on April 24, 2018, as one of its 30 member countries. India, the Maldives, Indonesia, Pakistan, and other nations bordering Bangladesh capture tuna on a regular basis in both domestic and international waters.

In order to capture tuna and other deep-sea pelagic species from the Bay of Bengal, it is necessary to venture into the deep waters in close proximity to Bangladesh’s exclusive economic zone.

In this situation, the government has to swiftly implement new financial initiatives to encourage private companies to take on the challenges of deep-sea fishing.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

The post Bangladesh struggles to tap deep sea fishing potential in the Bay of Bengal appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

Bangladesh has a huge maritime boundary. The marine territory is estimated to be 118,813 square kilometers. The country also has also extensive reserves of both living and non-living resources in its coastal and maritime areas, which provide considerable prospects for development.

A wide variety of non-living resources can be found in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, including oil, gas, sea salt, etc. Several offshore and nearshore regions off Bangladesh’s coast hold oil, gas, and commercially important heavy minerals.

There have been 17 deposits found in beach sands between Patenga and Teknaf that contain valuable minerals, including Zircon, Rutile, Ilmenite, Leucoxene, Kyanite, Garnet, Magnetite, and Monazite.

These resources benefit a variety of sectors, including marine transit, tourism, industry, ports, shipyards, shipbreaking, agriculture, aquaculture, islands, coastal protection, carbon storage, and waste disposal.

Among living coastal resources, Mangroves are the second most significant natural system in Bangladesh. The mangrove ecosystem is home to an abundant range of animals, including 53 species of pelagic fish, 124 species of demersal fish, 24 shrimp species, 58 wildlife species, and 270 birds.

Saint Martin’s Island contains the country’s unique coral habitat. There are 66 different coral species referred to here.

Bangladesh’s enormous water areas support roughly 260 freshwater and 475 marine fish species, many of which are threatened.

Bangladesh’s fish production has expanded sixfold in the previous 30 years. In 1983-84, the country produced just 7.54 lakh metric tons of fish, however, in 2020-21, the total surpassed 46.21 lakh metric tons. In reality, the government of Bangladesh’s Vision 2021 targeted for 45.52 lakh metric tons of fish output in 2020-21, which has already been exceeded. However, aquaculture accounts for more than 57% of total production. 

More than 0.8 million people rely directly or indirectly on the marine fishing sector for a living. There are now 225 industrial trawlers in operation, including 24 mid-water trawlers and around 38,000 mechanized and non-mechanized boats.

Hilsa (shad) is a significant fish in South and Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh. Hilsa is the one species that contributes the most to the country’s fish production. Hilsa accounts for more than 12.09% of the country’s fish production.

In the fiscal year 2001-02, the total amount of Hilsa harvested in the country was just a little more than 2 (2.21) lakh metric tons, by the fiscal year 2020-21, it had risen to almost 6 (5.65) lakh metric tons.

Besides Hilsa, shrimp production in Bangladesh is continually expanding. In the fiscal year 2020-21, Bangladesh’s total shrimp output is two and a half (2.52) lakh metric tons, rising at a pace of roughly 4.43% each year.

Bangladesh’s coastal areas have distinctive attractions, such as Cox’s Bazar, the world’s longest sea beach, and the Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest. However, the potential for coastal and marine tourism goes largely unexplored, as seen by Bangladesh’s recreational and tourism performance score, now at only 8%.

Limited data make it difficult to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all Bangladeshi marine resources. Yet it is quite clear that Bangladesh has vast marine resources which has immense potential for the country.

However, the growing pressures of population expansion and rising demand for work and food emphasize the importance of making sustainable and efficient use of these resources.

Therefore, adopting a comprehensive strategy that tackles all marine and maritime challenges is critical to Bangladesh’s sustainable resource management.

It is thus necessary to establish a strong set of statutory environmental laws to encourage the sustainable use of marine resources across all operating areas.

Priorities for ensuring the security of sustainable blue economy growth include increased ocean knowledge, spatial planning, and marine surveillance.

These activities will ultimately strengthen the blue economy and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

The post The Blue Economy: A catalyst for economic growth and development in coastal Bangladesh appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

One of the healthiest foods on the planet is fish, and Bangladesh is currently self-sufficient in fish production. The process for transferring fish into products that are appeared by the customer as having added quality and interest is called value-added fish products.

Example of value-added fishery product:

The demand to create value-added fish products from fish like Pangasius, Tilapia, Rohu, Katla, etc. arises from the growing yearly production of fish. There are several ways to increase the value of wet fish. One such instance is the manufacturing of dressed fish products, or Ready-to-Cook fish, which is in high demand abroad. Fish cutters determine prices according to fish size and kind, functioning as a crucial link in the fish value chain.

In the wet fish business, value addition includes processing fish and shrimp for export, such as butterfly, fish steak, and headless shell-on shrimp. Fish processing enterprises and home kitchens can produce a variety of dressed fish products, such as boneless, skinned, steaks, chunks, loins, fillets, gutted, scaled, and chopped fish, for personal or small-scale business usage.

Some value-added cooked fish products include mince or products based on mince and products coated, breaded, or battered. Fish mince, also known as minced fish, is the flesh that has been removed from the fish and is devoid of scales, skin, and bones. Fish mince is used to make a variety of “convenience foods,” including fish cutlets, fish balls, and fish nuggets.  A batter is a liquid concoction that is made up of flour, water, starch, and seasoning that is used to dip food goods before they are cooked.

Potentiality of value-added fish products:

Value-added product marketing is quite distinct from the conventional seafood industry. It is sensitive, dynamic, intricate, and highly costly. Because of the rising realization of valuable foreign exchange, value addition is the buzzword of the food processing sector, especially in the export-oriented fish processing industry. Fish and fisheries goods might have value added to them based on the demands of various markets. Value addition is one strategy that can be used to increase profitability in the fish processing sector, which is getting more and more expensive and competitive.

A value-added cooked product has the advantage of hiding the identity of the original fish from which it was made, thus even though the original fish would not have been accepted as a whole, customers may not hesitate to accept mince or mince-based items.

According to SM Rezaul Karim, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh is currently exporting fish and fish-related products to more than 50 nations worldwide. The minister stated that the nation exported 74,042.67 tons of fish and fish-related items in the 2021–2022 fiscal year, bringing in Taka 51.92 billion in foreign exchange. Furthermore, the nation exports a variety of dried fish varieties, fish scales, and shrimp shells. Value-added products account for over 70% of all fisheries and seafood products exported.

In addition to providing business owners with profits, the value-added fishery product production method saves consumers time, generates new employment opportunities, and supports the expansion of both the small and major fish processing industries.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post Value-added fish products and its enormous potentiality appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

Certain components of fish and prawns are thrown away as waste during processing and preservation. In the same way, some garbage and repulsive fish are not fit for human eating. These leftover materials and the fish mentioned above serve as a significant source of fish by-products, which are then utilized to create various beneficial fish by-products.

Necessity of fish by-product production:

Fishery wastes have grown to be a global issue in recent years, influenced by a number of biological, technical, and operational elements as well as socioeconomic issues. There is a tremendous quantity of trash produced while processing fish or shellfish.

Annual production of fish (including capture and aquaculture), shellfish, and other seafood exceeds 170 million metric tons worldwide (FAO, 2018). Even with an integrated and sustainable utilization of fishery resources, only roughly 50–60% of this amount is supplied for actual human consumption.  The annual discards from global fisheries are estimated to constitute 25% of the catch and consist of processing waste and byproducts, as well as “non-target” species. Thus, the primary issue is the overuse of fish resources. Particularly when preparing seafood or shellfish, there are massive waste outputs. A sizeable amount of these wastes are utilized (valued) in some way, such as a substrate for fishmeal, silage, and animal feed. But the remainder, which consists of substantial amounts of content, gets discarded.

These days, specialists have accepted the highly essential topics of minimizing the environmental impact of trash from the fish industry and recycling it as a useful byproduct. Solid wastes from fish processing can make up as much as 50–80% of the original raw material; these wastes are a great source of raw materials for high-value byproduct preparation.

Fish meat typically has a protein content of 15% to 20%. Certain fish species have extremely high body oil content. A few fish species such as cod, shark, and others are excellent providers of liver oil. Fishery trash is produced in huge quantities by the filleting and fish processing businesses. These are all excellent providers of premium fats, proteins, minerals, etc.

Some commercial importance of fish by-products:

It is possible to make additional goods out of low-value commercial species and food industry byproducts. Fishmeal, fish body and liver oils, fish maw, isinglass, and other byproducts of traditional fishing are commercially important fish by-products. Other byproducts that are typically processed from fish and fish waste include fish protein concentrate, fish albumin, glue, gelatin, pearl essence, peptones, amino acids, protamines, fish skin leather, etc. Byproducts with significant economic worth are chitin and chitosan, which are extracted from the waste of shrimp, crab, and other crustaceans. Other important fisheries byproducts are biochemical and medicinal items including glucosamine, insulin, and bile salts. Below is a quick summary of some of the significant byproducts of fishing.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post Fish by-product and its importance for fisheries industry appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

Occasionally, fishermen capture creatures that they are not permitted to retain, cannot sell, or do not want to abandon. “Bycatch” is the collective term for this. In addition to fish, bycatch can also refer to other creatures that get tangled or snagged in fishing gear, including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and seabirds. These inadvertently captured animals frequently get wounds or pass away. Small-scale subsistence fishing yields significantly less bycatch than industrial-scale fishing operations.

What is the cause of bycatch?

The main reason why bycatch happens in commercial fishing is that financial gain takes precedence above the welfare of animals or the health of the ecosystem. Due to the enormous demand from consumers for inexpensive seafood, commercial fisheries strive to provide the highest possible quantity of fish at the most competitive price.

Nowadays, a large portion of bycatch is caused by non-selective fishing gear. While highly effective in capturing target species, modern fishing gear also captures a large number of non-target creatures. “Incidental capture of turtles by longlines, trawls, and gillnets is the single greatest threat to the survival of most populations,” states the World Wildlife Fund.

The problem of bycatch:

Marine life is seriously harmed by bycatch, frequently to the point of death. The sudden change in water pressure that occurs when fishing gear propels fish and other aquatic animals to the surface can rupture their internal organs, which can be fatal. Other instances, nontarget species are thrown back into the water while they are already dead or dying on the decks of fishing boats.

Ecologically and financially, unwanted catch is a problem. Marine ecosystems are impacted by abandoned animals because they frequently die and are unable to reproduce. Bycatch can hinder population recovery and contribute to population reductions by slowing the restoration of overfished stocks and putting protected species like whales and sea turtles at increased risk. The elimination of their preferred prey and occasionally habitat destruction are two additional effects of fishing on marine mammals. Important fish habitat and protected corals may be harmed by bycatch of species like sponges and corals.

Fishermen suffer greatly from bycatch as well. It leads to gear damage, fewer catches, and fishing regulations that jeopardize their ability to make a living. Bycatch harms local and indigenous communities, who have coexisted with marine environments for thousands of years, in addition to harming ocean ecosystems. Many communities are losing access to traditional fishing grounds they have cared for for centuries as large commercial ships diminish the marine life in these regions.

How can unwanted catch be managed?

Bycatch-based fishing can be considered sustainable as long as the quantities of bycatch are properly controlled and the impacted fish populations continue to be robust. Fish that are legally caught as bycatch but are thrown out because their market value is too low. By figuring out how to employ this lawful catch, the fishing industry can benefit financially, and the amount of bycatch can be decreased.

Fishermen capture a diverse range of species and employ an extensive array of fishing equipment. To reduce bycatch, scientists, enthusiasts, GOs, NGOs, and INGOs should collaborate to develop, test, and adopt alternative fishing gear. They must to back the creation of technological advancements and modifications to fishing methods intended to reduce bycatch.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post Fishing bycatch: causes, arising problems and management plan appeared first on Seafood Network BD.