Surpassing China, Bangladesh has attained the second position in freshwater fish production in the world, according to a report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. In the last two years, various species of fish, including hilsa, pangas, boal and aair, have contributed significantly to the production of freshwater fish in the country.
Fish farming has been enhanced manifold during the last couple of years as a result of growing interest among the people. According to the report, China’s freshwater fish production was 1.46 million tonnes and it ranked 2nd in the world. On the other hand, the production of Bangladesh was 1.25 million tonnes and it ranked 3rd in the world.
Good news is that native fishes are now found in abundance in all the rivers, haors, canals, beels and other waterbodies across the country. The government has taken steps to produce the indigenous species of fish all over the country with a view to bringing back the endangered indigenous freshwater fishes.
Over the past decade, many native fishes continued disappearing from the country’s rivers, haors, canals, beels and other waterbodies due to the use of chemical fertilisers, unplanned use of land, shortage of ponds, siltation of rivers, canals and other waterbodies, indiscriminate and unabated catching of fish fries and adverse impact of climate change.
Good news is that native fishes are now found
in abundance in all the
rivers, haors, canals, beels and other
waterbodies across the country.
Besides, the indigenous fish varieties disappeared fast since the waterbodies, including rivers, haors, canals and wetlands, were being grabbed by influential people. Agro chemicals destroyed breeding grounds of fishes endangering their existence.
But as per the prime minister’s instructions, the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, the Fisheries Department, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and agricultural universities have achieved a massive success in bringing the country’s endangered indigenous freshwater fishes through different initiatives, including conducting research. Coming out of traditional methods, the government is now adopting developed and modern ones to protect local species of fishes from extinction.
People should be discouraged from catching fishes aggressively and indiscriminately in the rivers and waterbodies. During the dry season, people catch all varieties of fish from waterbodies by pumping water and indiscriminately catch all mother fishes. Such trend must be stopped immediately to help the government create favourable condition for native fishes.
