Asia is currently the world’s largest aquaculture producer, with Bangladesh ranking fifth, just behind of China, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.

Fisheries play a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economic landscape, providing sustenance as well as economic prosperity. In addition to providing non-vegetarian food for the country, it also generates substantial income.

Fish exports totaling 70,000 tons were made in the fiscal year 2022–2023, bringing in a noteworthy Tk 4,790.3 crore. The infusion of foreign revenue generated by fish exports significantly contributes to the nation’s overall growth.

By 2041, Bangladesh aims to produce 8.5 million MT of fish, demonstrating its commitment to the growth and sustainability of its fisheries.

The study showed that, climate change could cost Asia’s aquaculture industry US$140 million over ten years, especially in Bangladesh.

A total of 54,000 MT of aquaculture production were lost from 2011 to 2020 as a result of floods, worth US$93 million. Approximately US$248 million was lost in fish products due to cyclones, the second most destructive factor.

Due to Bangladesh’s disaster-prone nature, previous natural calamities have already demonstrated the severity of financial losses. The devastating floods following Cyclone Amphan in 2020 washed away fish and shrimp worth Tk 900 crore in the central, north, and southern districts. A dam in Bagherhat was destroyed by Cyclone Yaas in 2021, resulting in flooding of hundreds of fish grounds and houses. During the rapid flood of 2022, 1,655 hectares of fish, crab, and shrimp in Satkhira were flooded, resulting in a loss of Tk 8.46 crore. In 2023, Bangladesh was ravaged by Cyclone Midhili, triggering flash floods in coastal districts.

However, fish farmers can minimize losses from such events with reliable climate-related information. By providing science-based information and forecasts, climate service data empowers decision-makers to manage risk and to discover opportunities associated with climate variability and climate change.

Thus, climate information can help fish farmers make climate-sensitive decisions and manage production processes in order to reduce climate-related risks.

Dr. Rumana Hossainn, WorldFish scientist and lead author on the research said that, “We have found that aquaculture provides livelihoods for thousands of people. Our financial losses highlight the need to invest in Climate Information Services, which could have a game-changing impact on our aquaculture industry.” 

Climate services for aquaculture have been slow to be adopted in countries in the Global South, according to the study.

In Bangladesh, a lack of awareness about economic benefits, inadequate education, and the use of such services for crops are the main reasons for this.

As the need for climate information seems quite urgent, experts suggest that the Fisheries Department could disseminate climate information from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. By doing so, the sector will be able to provide advice and manage the threats caused by climate change.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

The post Bangladesh fisheries sector requires climate data assistance amidst growing challenges appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

However, in recent years, a new glimmer of hope has emerged about the availability of large-size fresh water pangas. Other fish stocks in the river have increased as a result of the Hilsa protection effort. The Department of Fisheries has removed the illegal fishing trap known as ‘Chai,’ which was set up at numerous pangas hatching places such as Chandpur and Shariatpur.

The Fisheries Act prohibits the capture of pangas smaller than 12 inches (30 cm) from the wild. Disobedience to the law, reservoir destruction, haphazard infrastructure construction, killing of fry and eggs, use of illegal nets, excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, dumping of industrial waste in rivers and oceans, and plastic pollution have all contributed to the decline of the pangas fish population.

For several years, ECOFISH II, a project of Worldfish funded by USAID, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, has been undertaking numerous efforts.  They organized different awareness programs for pangas conservation through all over Bangladesh, especially in the riverine region of Chadpur, Borguna and Barishal.   Furthermore, any groups have made no such conservation efforts. The approach of the ECOFISH II team might be viewed as the first step toward riverine Pangas’s conservation and management. Department of Fisheries were tried their level best to eliminate the use of chai, which is used for catching the fry of riverine pangas species. 200-300 kg of fry are caught in one such Pangas fish fry net or Chai.

Nevertheless, this vicious cycle has started in recent years when the production of natural pangas fish has been increasing. Around 600 kg of Pangas fish fry were seized from three boats in the Meghna River because of a joint operation of the Fisheries Department, Chandpur Sadar and the Coast Guard.

Pangas fish contain less mercury than other varieties of fish, making them a safer choice for regular intake. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary for cardiovascular health and cognitive function. It is high time to conserve riverine Pangas fish stock, so that it can continue to exist for future generations. Pangas fish resource users should emphasize on conserving Pangas breeding, nursery, and spawning grounds. Fishermen should encourage other fishermen to stop illegal fishing of Pangas, so that a sustainable catch rate could be retained.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post Conservation of Riverine Pangas is a concerning issue appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

KH Mahbubul Haque, the Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries, attended the workshop as the chief guest. The event attracted various prominent individuals and both private and public stakeholders involved in carp production and research. On behalf of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), KH Mahbubul Haque officially received the rapidly-growing WorldFish Generation Three (G3) Rohu.

In 2012, WorldFish implemented the Carp Genetic Improvement Program (CGIP), which involved collecting juvenile Rohu, Catla, and Silver Carp fish and their spawns from three rivers in Bangladesh—Padma, Jamuna, and Halda. The G3 Rohu strains were then cultivated in 19 hatcheries for an on-farm trial in 2022. The trial demonstrated that the G3 Rohu weighed 37% more than conventional varieties.

During the workshop, Mohammad Yeasin, the Dissemination Manager of WorldFish, expressed, “The adoption of the G3 Rohu brood by the Bangladesh Fisheries Department will accelerate the dissemination of this improved breed of Rohu throughout the entire country.”

The post WorldFish handed over rapidly-growing G3 Rohu to DoF Bangladesh appeared first on Seafood Network BD.