Posted on 8th Oct 2024 11:27:45 PM Fisheries
INTRODUCTION
Beels are the low-lying depressions in the floodplain. They have a permanent character, containing water throughout the year (Perinnial beels) or dry completely out during a part, mostly 4-5 months, of the year (seasonal year).
There are about 6,034 beels in north-east region of the country having an area of 69,870 ha with a minimum size of 70 ha. About 58% of these beels are permanent (Perinnial) and the remainder is seasonal (Bernaesk, 1992).
The fisheries sector plays a very important role in countries socio-cultural and economic life, providing food, employment and foreign exchange. It contributes about 58% of animal protein to our daily diet, 3.74% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 4.04% to export earnings (DoF, 2010). About 41.36%, 39.23% and 19.41% of total catches are obtained from inland capture fisheries; culture fisheries and marine fisheries whereas 34.99% catch obtained from beel and floodplain in capture fisheries (DoF, 2010). So, the importance of beel and floodplain in our fisheries sector as well as our economy is very.
Most of the species consumed in Bangladesh depend on flooding. This fish move from rivers through canals to beels every year. Beels are very good natural habitat of large and small indigenous species. Soil and water of beels are very productive. It is suitable spawning ground for carp fishes. Mainly of the fish and prawn species multiply in number in beels. 60% of known freshwater fish species in Bangladesh are floodplain dependent (Boyce, 1991). The floodplain and beels are also used as the seasonal habitat by a large number of fish, prawn, turtle, mussel and other aquatic animals and aquatic weeds.
The inland open water capture fisheries production started to decline in both quantity and species diversity. The open water fisheries resources are declining day by day due to lack of proper management policy, over fishing, unplanned establishment of Flood Controlled Drainage (FCD) and Flood Control Drainage and Irrigation (FCDI) dams, growth of population, fast rate of expiration of irrigation, industrial activities and heavy pesticides put on the flood plains during irrigation (Jhingran, 1991). BFRI (2005) surveyed in Bangladesh that, every year about 8000 mt. of pesticides are used in agriculture fields, of these 25% pesticides are being washed into agricultural field that affects on eggs capacity. Fertilization and hatching rates of fishes are less 40%, 15 -25% respectively that free from pesticides (Hossain and Howlader, 1996). As a result about 54 small indigenous species among 260 freshwater species is about to extinct which are born in floodplains and these are main nutritional source of poor people (FAP-17, 1995).
In Bangladesh , fishes and fisheries items of inland water still are caught by using traditional crafts and gears. In respect of gears. Ahmed (1954) described 116 nets, 26 traps of inland fishing including hooks and other devices in general way. For traditional fishing different types of gears, crafts are used. Nets include gill nets, seine nets, drag nets (e.g. Tana jal, Badai jal), Framed nets (e.g. Bhesal jal, Dharma jal, Hancha jal), Cast nets (e.g. Khepla jal) etc. Traps include Charo, Hancha, Polo, Bitti, Chaloon, Dhuni etc. For fishery with crafts Jaila nauka, Vedi nauka, Kosha nauka, Donga, Talal dingi and rafts of banana tree (locally called Bhura) are mentioned. Line fishing uses are chip barsi, Pata barsi, Wheel barsi etc.
Fishing community represents an essential component of every fishery like beel fishery. Millar and Johnson (1989) defined fishery as the union of aquatic organisms and human. According to them there are three basic elements of a fishery- the resource itself, the aquatic environment and the people who harvest the resource or change the condition of its aquatic surroundings. So the socio-economic conditions of the fishing community have to be considered with almost importance to get an overall idea of the fisheries and undertake any sort of management measures in the open water capture fishery sector for the conservation of the resources and restoration of the open water ecosystem. Hannan (1994) stated that some ethnic communities used to catch fish from natural river in Bangladesh and that the fishermen came from low caste of Hindu society.
For generation harvesting of the annual gifts of flood water has become a regular event, particularly to the rural poor whose income and subsistence rely heavily upon free access to water and their aquatic life. Farmers are one of the most vulnerable communities in beel fisheries. They are poor by any standard and over the years economic condition of the fishermen has further deteriorate. Alam et al. (1995) estimated the average per capita annual income of the fishermen families to be Tk. 2442 i.e. about 70%, lower than the per capita income of the country as a whole. Actual condition of the fishermen communities in general must be assessed to know real potential of beel fishing as a source of income.
The number of fishermen is increasing greatly due to the absence of employment opportunities for increasing population and easy access to this profession. About 12.8 million people are directly or indirectly involved in this sector, among them 60% are engaged in inland and 40% are marine fishing. Labour employment in this sector has been increasing approximately by 35% annually (Ahmed, 2005). So, immediate efforts should be taken to the proper management of these resources.
Inspite of the destruction of floodplain ecosystem, a number of floodplain still exist in Bangladesh. Among them Foliar beel in the district of Rajshahi is an important ecosystem with its fisheries activities.
The floodplain fishery plays a very important role in cushioning rural poverty and supplying food to the poor. People living in village around the beels harvest the fish almost round the year without any prior investment except catching devices. Perhaps more than any other countries, the population of Bangladesh depend on wild fish for food and the generation of income. A large portion of rural people is engaged in part time fishing from the beels/ floodplains (Hughes et al., 1994). Hence, it is essential to manage the floodplain. Some research work would necessary on the management of Foliar beel which would be greatly helpful in planning for further development.
OBJECTIVES
The study was undertaken on Angrar beel in Rajshahi district with a view to serve the following objectives-
· To know fisheries resources of the Angrar beel
· To know socio-economic condition of the fishermen
· To know needs and problems of the fishermen
· To know uses of traditional fishing of the Angrar beel
· To know ecological condition of the Angrar beel
· To know production of the Angrar beel.
ABSTRACT
This investigation was carried out during December, 2010 to March, 2011. The present study was carried out on the “Angrar beel” under Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi district. The study area is the important water bodies of our country.
During the study period, a total of 40 different species of fishes, 8 species of fisheries items under the classes Crustacea, Gastropoda, Amphibia and Reptila were identified. Fisheries resources are largely influenced natural fish food organism such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. These phytoplanktons are Ulothrix sp., Spirogyra sp., Volvox sp., Nostoc sp. etc. and zooplanktons are Asplanchna sp., Daphnia sp. Moina sp., Cyclops sp., Notholca sp., etc. Study area also provides an important source of aquatic vegetation which are Eichhornia crassipes, Azolla pinnata, Enhydra fluctuans, Nelumbo nucifera etc. abundantly used by the surrounding villagers.
In the investigation, the fishing gears used by the fishermen were 8 types of net, 4 types of trap, 4 types of hook and line and 3 types of spears and harpoons. Here, the local name, physical structure, size of the gear, operating method, using season and common caught species of these gears have been described in the present study.
This study has been conducted a survey of socio-economic status of the landowners and landless fishermen group who fully or partly depend on fishing activities in Angrar beel at Rajshahi district. Using survey method it is found that most of the fishermen are at age group 31-40 years, larger family size 6.9 belong to landless fishermen. 81.81 landless fishermen are illiterate no person above secondary level. Among landowns rate of illiteracy are 60.7% and 14.28% are educated above secondary level. Housing condition of landless and landowner is 95.45% and 42.34% mostly katcha respectively. About 40.9% landless and 53.57% landowner are using kacha latrine. Nobody is using pacca latrine. About 46.42 landowner and 40.90% landless fishermen are suffering from malnutrition. For getting treatment about landowner 75.00% and landless 80.36% fishermen have gone to quack. But 40.7% landowner fishermen have gone to M.B.B.S doctor. The average monthly income of the landowner fishermen are 4293.5Tk whereas average monthly income of the fisherman are 3502.04 Tk. Agriculture is the main occupation for the landowner fishermen. Landless fishermen are mainly fulltime fishermen. Average fish consumptions for landowner and landless fishermen are 17.22 and 15.96 kg/capita/year. Government and Nongovernmental organizations should take proper initiative to improve the socioeconomic condition fishermen of Angrar beel.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Contents
List of Tables
List of Plates
List of Figure
Chapter One: Introduction
Beel
Objectives
Chapter Two: Review of Literature
Fisheries Resources
Fishing techniques used to capture fisheries resources
Socio-economic condition of fishermen
Chapter Three: Materials and Methods
Materials
Methodology
Selection and location of the study area
Duration of the study
Data collection
Chapter Four: Results and Observations
Physico-chemical characteristics of water and climate condition of the study area
Fisheries Resources
Traditional fishing
Fishing status of the Angrar beel
Net
Hook and line
Spears and harpoon
Gear used by fishermen
Socio-economic Condition of the Fishermen
Family size
Age distribution
Religious status
Literacy level
Housing condition
Use of electricity
Sanitation status
Disease of fishermen
Nature of treatment
Occupational status
Income
Fish consumption
Chapter Five: Discussion
Fisheries resources
Fishing methods of the study area
Socio-economic condition
Chapter Six: Problems and Recommendations
Problems
Recommendations
Chapter Seven: Conclusion
Chapter Eight: References
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
1. Monthly average fluctuation of pH in the study area of the beel from December, 2010 to March, 2011.
2. Monthly average water temperature in the study area of the Angrar beel from December, 2010 to March, 2011.
3. Monthly average DO of the Angrar beel from December, 2010 to March, 2011.
4. Checklist of fishes in the study area of the Angrar beel
5. Checklist of fisheries items in the study area of the Angrar beel
6. Checklist of the piscivorous vertebrates of other than fishes found in the study area of the Angrar beel.
7. List of phytoplankton in the study area of the Angrar beel
8. List of zooplankton in the study area of the Angrar beel
9. List of aquatic plants in the study area of the Angrar beel
10. Family size of fishermen
11. Age distribution of fishermen
12. Religious status of fishermen in the study area
13. Literacy level of fishermen
14. Housing condition of fishermen
15. Use of electricity
16. Sanitation status of the fishermen
17. Disease of fishermen in the study areas
18. Nature of treatment of the fishermen
19. Occupational status of the fishermen
20. Average income of fishermen (TK/capita/month)
21. Average fish consumption of fishermen
LIST OF PLATES
1. Different fish species are found of the Angrar beel
2. Different fish species are found of the Angrar beel
3. Different types of gear are used in Angrar beel
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Showing the steps of methodology in present study
2. Map of Durgapur Upazila, Rajshahi
3. Monthly average fluctuation of pH value in the study area of the Angrar beel
4. Monthly average water temperature in the study area of the Angrar beel
5. Monthly average DO (ppm) in the study area of the Angrar beel
6. Net using status by the fishermen
7. Traps using status by the fishermen
8. Hook and lines using status by the fishermen
9. Spears and harpoon using status by the fishermen
10. Showing age distribution of fishermen
11. Showing Religious status of fishermen
12. Showing educational status of fishermen
13. Showing housing condition of fishermen
14. Showing sanitation status of the fishermen
15. Showing occupational status of the fishermen
Fisheries, Resources, Traditional, Fishing, Socio-Economic, Condition, Fishermen, Angrar, Beel, Durgapur, Upazila, Rajshahi, District, Crustacea, Gastropoda, Amphibia, Reptila, Eichhornia, Crassipes, Azolla, Pinnata, Enhydra, Fluctuans, Nelumbo, Nucifera, Status
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