Protecting Our Fish Species

Fish resources are an indispensable element of our economy. The people of Bangladesh are known as ‘machey-bhatey’ (fish and rice) Bangali. Eighty percent of protein demands are met by fish in our country. Bangladesh is number 4 in global fish production. Every year, the country produces different types of fresh water and sea fishes.

Our climate, weather, environment and water bodies are apposite for various fish farming. But in the era of neo-liberalism, the total fish farming system has turned into commercial cultivation through hybridisation and genetically modified varieties.

In Bangladesh, there are 8,545 bunged water bodies over 3.46 lakh acres (140,021 hectares), and 3,773 open water bodies covering an area of 27.82 lakh acres (1,125,835 hectares). Most of the water bodies are under contract farming by local farmers and national or international agencies. As a result, intensification (extraction of ground water, use of agrochemicals and hybrid seeds) of the water bodies makes them suitable only for hybrid fish, not for indigenous species.

On the other hand, our local rivers are losing their ecological and physical stability due to encroachment by land-grabbers. Through construction of unplanned switch gates, culverts and bridges, our local rivers are disappearing. In this context, ecological insurgencies are intensifying in some of the rivers, such as Mathavanga, Kopotakkho, Kaligonga, Halda, Gouri, Baleshor, Horinghata, Muktesshori, Chetona, Vodra and Horihor.

At the same time, our indigenous fish resources are losing breeding ground for producing future generations. Some examples of indigenous fish species are vetki, mola, topse, dhela, darkina, jeol, puti, pabda, vol, chanda, bele, tengra, bashpata, etc. They are hapless sufferers of anthropogenic activities and contract farming. They are disappearing from the existing ecosystem. About 58 types of indigenous fish species are facing extinction. In general, indigenous fish resources are essential for maintaining food chain and water ecosystems. If they are lost, our food security will be under threat.

Our government is very cooperative in protecting our indigenous fishes. We have plethora of laws and policies, like protection and conservation of fish act, environment policy, marine fisheries ordinance, water policy and agricultural policy. The authorities have to come forward to address illegal construction on water bodies, river encroachment, land filling and use of current nets. The time has come to protect our water bodies from rent-seekers.

To conclude, people have to be more aware about the protection of our indigenous fish resources, not only for food chain and nutrition security, but also for ensuring water biodiversity and ecological balance. 

The writer is an environment analyst.

Photos: File

Protecting Our Fish Species

Fish resources are an indispensable element of our economy. The people of Bangladesh are known as machey-bhatey (fish and rice) Bangali. Eighty percent of protein demands are met by fish in our country. Bangladesh is number 4 in global fish production. Every year, the country produces different types of fresh water and sea fishes. Our climate, weather, environment and water bodies are apposite for various fish farming. But in the era of neo-liberalism, the total fish farming system has turned into commercial cultivation through hybridisation and genetically modified varieties. In Bangladesh, there are 8,545 bunged water bodies over 3.46 lakh acres (140,021 hectares), and 3,773 open water bodies covering an area of 27.82 lakh acres (1,125,835 hectares). Most of the water bodies are under contract farming by local farmers and national or international agencies. As a result, intensification (extraction of ground water, use of agrochemicals and hybrid seeds) of the water bodies makes them suitable only for hybrid fish, not for indigenous species. On the other hand, our local rivers are losing their ecological and physical stability due to encroachment by land-grabbers. Through construction of unplanned switch gates, culverts and bridges, our local rivers are disappearing. In this context, ecological insurgencies are intensifying in some of the rivers, such as Mathavanga, Kopotakkho, Kaligonga, Halda, Gouri, Baleshor, Horinghata, Muktesshori, Chetona, Vodra and Horihor. At the same time, our indigenous fish resources are losing breeding ground for producing future generations. Some examples of indigenous fish species are vetki, mola, topse, dhela, darkina, jeol, puti, pabda, vol, chanda, bele, tengra, bashpata, etc. They are hapless sufferers of anthropogenic activities and contract farming. They are disappearing from the existing ecosystem. About 58 types of indigenous fish species are facing extinction. In general, indigenous fish resources are essential for maintaining food chain and water ecosystems. If they are lost, our food security will be under threat. Our government is very cooperative in protecting our indigenous fishes. We have plethora of laws and policies, like protection and conservation of fish act, environment policy, marine fisheries ordinance, water policy and agricultural policy. The authorities have to come forward to address illegal construction on water bodies, river encroachment, land filling and use of current nets. The time has come to protect our water bodies from rent-seekers. To conclude, people have to be more aware about the protection of our indigenous fish resources, not only for food chain and nutrition security, but also for ensuring water biodiversity and ecological balance. The writer is an environment analyst. Photos: File