Posted on 9th Oct 2024 08:45:05 PM Fisheries
INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh is a land of rivers with one of the largest networks in the world. There are about 230 rivers in our country. Bangladesh has predominantly four major rivers systems such as (1) Brahmaputra- Jamuna, (2) Ganges- Padma (3) Surma- Meghna and (4) Chittagong river system. However preparing a complete list of the rivers of Bangladesh is more or less tough as often a single river possesses different names at different places, even a five or six km segment has a different name upstream or downs term. Also a single name is used for different rivers in different locations (Alam and Chowdhury, 2006).
River plays an important role in the life and living of the people of a country specially the fishermen. Rivers are also important in terms of huge fisheries resources and other purposes of navigation, irrigation and domestic uses. Bangladesh covers a wide area of river and riverine basin. The water resources are considered as good as gold mines of Bangladesh. Besides, inland open water area contains highly diversified aquatic ecosystem. The main two divisions of fisheries sub-sectors are the inland and marine fisheries. In addition to the regular water reservoir, a large part of the country remains under water for 3-4 months during rainy season. These inland waters have molded not only physiography of the country but also the way of the life of the people of Bangladesh.
1.1 Importance of fisheries sector in Bangladesh
Fish and fisheries are important resources of Bangladesh. Fish constitutes on an average everyday protein diet. Fish is rich enough with high quality of protein, lipid, minerals, and vitamins like B12. Next to meat, fish is the only protein source that contains all the essential amino acids in about right proportion and as such it is called ‘complete protein’. This country has vast and diversified water area of 5.33 million ha. In Bangladesh, the fisheries sector accounts for 3.74% of GDP, 22.23% of the gross value added to agricultural products, more then 3% of export earnings, and employs over 2 million people. Total fishermen 1280000 of which 770,000 are of inland fishermen and 510,000 of marine fishermen. Moreover, 12 million people are engaged in part-time fishing profession to supplement their income. In the year 2008-09 export of fish and fishery products were 72888 tons from which Tk 3243.41 million was earned (DoF, 2010).
1.2 Account of riverine fisheries in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is fortunate enough having an extensive and huge water resources scattered all over the country in the form of rivers and canals. Bangladesh being resourceful of fish bio-diversity, there are 260 indigenous freshwater species and 475 species of marine water fishes in Bangladesh (DoF, 2010). Besides, there are about 24 economically important freshwater prawn species available in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh ranks at the top for production of freshwater fish (4076 kg per sq. km). In terms of total production, it stands third after China and India as the world's largest inland fish producing country (Farooque, 1997).
Total inland open water is 40,47,316 ha which is contributing 34.83% of total fish capture. Total fish production from inland water area in the year 2008-09 was 2186726mt., as against 80.95% of the total catch. In case of marine fisheries, fish catch was 514644 mt. in 2008-09, as against 19.05% of the total catch (Fig. 1) (DoF, 2010).
The pride Bangladesh is its rivers with one of the largest networks in the world with a total number of about 700 rivers including hilly stream, tributaries, distributaries, creeks, and canals which altogether have a total length of 24140 km. These watercourses are obviously not evenly distributed, but increased in number and size from the northwest of the northern region to the southeast of southern region.
1.3 Degradation of riverine fish production
Fish production is decreasing from the rivers day by day due to both man made and natural causes. The major man made causes consist of obstruction of water flows, dumping chemical residue, high fishing intensity, myopic government policy in the field of development of inland riverine fisheries. On the other hand natural disasters like flood and drought are contributing to the declination of riverine fisheries production. Riverine fisheries contributed 150129 mt in the year 2000-01 of the total production. in 2004-05 total fish production 139798 mt. In the year 2008-09 total fish production of riverine fisheries production .138160 mt, where as 2000-01 annual production rate was 7.20% and after eight years the ratio came down to 5.39% during the year 2008-09 (DoF, 2010).
1.4 Fishing gears and crafts used in the river Baral
Different types of gears and crafts are used to capture the fisheries resources from the river Baral. Major categories of gears include nets, traps and hooks. For fishing purpose, a wide variety of nets such as gill nets (fashi jal, current jal), chandi jal, pangas jal, catal jal), seine nets (ber jal, moia jal, paing jal), lift nets (hat tana jal, chakna jal) and cost nets (khepla jal, tora jal) are usually used in the of river Baral. The dominant fishing traps are dohar, bitti, kholsoon, bana, etc. For line fishing chhip barshi (hook) and wheel barshi are used. Different types of fishing crafts like kosha boat, vedi boat, jaila dingi, nikari dingi, and rafts are dominantly used for fish capture in the study areas of the river Baral.
1.5 Objectives of the study
· To have on overall idea about the fisheries resources of the river Baral.
· To observe the present conditions of the fisheries diversity and riverine habitat of the Baral river.
· To know the diversified fishing gears used in the study area.
· To identify the existing fish capture techniques tools are usually used by the fishermen in the study area.
· To know the livelihood status of the Baral river fishermen at the contiguous villages.
· To make some suggestions and policy guidelines for the improvement of the Baral river fish diversity.
1.6 Importance of the study
· This study will provide information about fish species currently available in the river Baral.
· This study will help understanding the causes of reduction of fish species in the river Padma.
· This study will provide information of different fishing gears and crafts used in the river Baral.
· This knowledge will help understanding the socio-economic condition of the fisher folk and the ways of solving their problems.
ABSTRACT
The present study is an humble attempt to explore fish fauna, other fisheries items and fishing techniques condition of the fishermen of the River Baral. Data was collected throughout the year starting from November 2010 to May 2011. Primary data were collected directly from fishermen, fish traders and organizations related to this field. Besides, home visits, spot visits, market survey, method were followed. Secondary sources were also utilized while preparing report. In the present study, taxonomy, local names, availability, breeding season of 61 fin fish species and 11 non fin fishes were identified and provided along with the photographs of all the listed species. A list of common, less common and some threatened fish species was also provided. Different fish capture methods, fishing gears and crafts that are usually used in the study area have also been provided. Hand fishing, catha, cloth fishing and fishing by dewatering were also observed. Causes of habituate degradation and changes of natural habitat and declination of fishes from the river Padma were also observed of fishes. Some problems of the fishing community of the study areas were also identified. Some policy recommendations have been given in the concluding chapter which may have some positive implication on the life and living of the fishermen in Bangladesh in general and the Baral basin in particular.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Abstract
List of tables
List of figures
List of plates
Chapter-1: Introduction
1.1 Importance of fisheries sector in Bangladesh
1.2 Account of riverine fisheries in Bangladesh
1.3 Degradation of riverine fish production
1.4 Fishing gears and crafts used in the river Baral
1.5 Objectives of the study
1.6 Importance of the study
Chapter-2: Review of Literature
2.1 Literature Review of Riverine fisheries diversity
2.2 Literature review of fishing activities of riverine fisheries
Chapter-3: Methodology
3.1 Study area
3.2 Study period
3.3 Data collection by following methods
3.4 Data Processing and analysis
3.5 Research limitation: Some assumptions
Chapter-4: Results and Observation
4.1 Catch composition
4.2 Degradation of fishes from the river Baral
4.3 Fishing Activity
4.3.1 Different types of nets are used
Chapter-5: Discussion
5.1 Fisheries Resources of the River Baral
5.2 Species Occurrence
5.3 Declination of Fisheries Resources from the River Baral
5.4 Fishing Methods of the Study Area
Chapter-6: Recommendation
6.1 Recommendations on fisheries diversity
6.2 Recommendations on fishing activity
6.3 Recommendations on riverine fishery habitat
6.4 Recommendations on fishermen's livelihoods
Chapter-7: Conclusion
Chapter-8: References
Chapter-9: Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
1. Surveyed Fishes of the river Baral at Bagatipara, Natore
2. Order and family wise no. of species during the study period.
3. A list of other fisheries items in the river Baral at Bagatipara, Natore
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Showing the study area
2. Percentage composition of different orders of fish to total fish catch of the Baral River
3. Percentage contribution of other fisheries items
LIST OF PLATES
1. Partial view of the Baral River
2. Current jal
3. Ber jal
4. Khara jal in operation
5. Showing Bua/dharma jal
6. Showing Thela jal
7. Showing Khepla jal
8. Polo
9. Kholson
10. Bana
11. Showing different type fishing boats used in the Baral River
Thesis, Fish, Bio-Diversity, Fishing, Gears, River, Baral, Bagatipara, Natore, Bangladesh, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Ganges, Padma, Surma, Meghna, Fishing, Riverine, Fishery, Habitat, Fishermen, Livelihood, Current, Ber, Khara, Bua, Dharma, Thela, Khepla, Jal, Polo, Kholson, Bana
Share on Facebook