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Source and Abundance of Jatka (juvenile Hilsa, Tenualosa Ilisha) in the Gajner Beel, Sujanagar, Pabna

M. A. Mazid,
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-220l

M. J. Rahman
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-220l

M. G. Mustafa
WorldFish Center, Bangladesh and South Asia Office, Banani, Dhaka-1213

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Investigations on the source, abundance, migration, exploitations and management options of Jatka (juvenile hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha) fisheries were conducted in the Gajner beel, located at the south- east corner of the Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development Project (PIRDP) in Sujanagar Upazila of Pabna district. This article reports exclusively on the important Jatka fishery of the Gajner beeI. The Padma and the Jamuna was identified as the sole source of Jatka in the Beel. The migratory route of Jatka was found to be extended from the Padma and/ or Jamuna rivers to the Badai river and then to the beel through a sluice gate at Talimnagar village. The possibility of breeding of hilsa in the beel was nullified. The main Jatka fishing season was found extended from mid August to mid October. Lift net (Veshal/Bandhy Khora Jal) and beach seine net (Ber Jal) were found to be the major gears involved in Jatka fishing. The total quantity of Jatka caught from the beel during 2004 - 05 fishing season was estimated to be 46.2 mt. Finally, a community based management plan was suggested for implementation by the Gajner beel management committee.

Keywords: Source of jatka and Abandance of Jatka

Location: Sujanagar, Sathia, Bera, Pabna

Start Date: 01-09-2004

End Date: 31-08-2005

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Hilsa

Objectives:

To trace out the source, abundance, possibility of spawning, migration, fishing methods, fishing season and landings of Jatka in the Gajner Beel as well as to suggest different management strategies for the fishery.

Methodology:

The study area was the Gajner beel, located around the south-east corner of the Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development Project in Sujanagar (partly attached to Sathia and Bera) Upazila of Pabna district, Bangladesh at the confluence of the Padma and the Jamuna rivers. The earthen embankment of the project together with a large sluice gate at Talimnagar point on the Badai river mainly regulate the water levels as well as migration of fish to and from the Beel. The Gajner beel and adjacent water bodies were surveyed in September 2004. The entire water area of the bee I were visited by boat and the surrounding land areas by local transportation and on foot. During the visit, information on the bee! and its resources were collected through interviewing the local people including fishers. To identify the species of Jatka of the Gajner beel, Jatka sample was collected from the Beel and brought to the laboratory of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh. In the laboratory the morphometric and meristic characteristics of the samples were compared with those of the juvenile hilsa and confirmed that the samples collected are the juvenile of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha. Special care was taken in separating the other two Jatka-like species, viz. Gudusia chapra and Goniolosa manmina. During the survey, special emphasis was given to detect the availability of Jatka and the possible breeding grounds of hilsa in the beel. Possible migratory routes of the hilsa juveniles in the Gajner beel were also taken into consideration. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques were used for gathering baseline information about the Gajner beel, its resources, management system, conflicts and related problems. Particular emphasis was given to collect information about the availability of Jatka in the beel. Specific information regarding the abundance, distribution, fishing and marketing of Jatka in the bee! were collected during the PRA sessions. The tool used to conduct the PRA was the Focus Group Discussion, which included all of the important stakeholders, such as fishers, agriculture landowners, leaseholders, sluice gate operators, government officials and local people. Some water quality parameters like color, depth, temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen content and pH of the Gajner beel were monitored monthly from September 2004 to August 2005, except during the dry season (December-June) when water was not available for sampling. Fish samples were collected monthly from the Gajner Beel and preserved in 10% buffered formalin in properly labeled containers and were brought to the laboratory of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh for further analyses. Catch rate and fish species composition were analyzed. Each of the species of fin fishes was separated carefully. Special care was taken in separating the two Jatka- like species, viz. Gudusia chapra and Goniolosa manmina. After that, weight (g) of each of the fish sample was taken and the percentage composition of each of the species was calculated. The quantity of Jatka catch in the Gajner beel was estimated separately for different gears on monthly basis. Total fishing areas of the beel was surveyed by a motorized boat to count the gears involved in Jatka fishing in the Jatka harvesting season (mid August to mid October). Average daily catch of Jatka in a particular month was considered as daily catch rate for that gear for that particular month. Then the catch rate was multiplied by the total number of gears involved to get the total daily catch of Jatka. From this daily total catch, monthly and seasonal catch was estimated using simple arithmetic.

Source of Information: BANGLADESH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES, Vol. 30, February 2007, pp. 37-51, ISSN 0257 - 4330.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The information regarding the migration of Jatka from the adjacent rivers to the Beel would be valuable for the overall management of the fisheries of the Beel. However, formulation of a sound management plan for the development of total fisheries resources of the Beel is not possible solely on the basis of the information related to Jatka. For the development of a complete management plan, detail information regarding the quantities of Jatka and other fisheries resources as well as their relationship with the operation of the sluice gate need further investigation.

Knowledge Management: Journal