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Fishing Gears, Fish Marketing and Livelihood Status of the Poor Fishermen Around the Basantapur Beel at Lalpur Upazila

M.S. Alam
Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205

F.A. Flowra

M.A. Salam
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

A.K.M.A. Kabir
Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

H. Ali
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present investigation was carried out to assess the fishing gears, fish marketing and livelihood status of the fishermen in Basantapur beel of Lalpur upazila under Natore district. Forty five fishermen were randomly selected covering the study area for a period of one year, from November 2006 to October 2007 data collection purposes. Data were collected from the fishermen through some selected PRA tools such as individual questionnaire interview, key informant interview, focus group discussion and physical observation during fishing, landing and marketing. Eight types of nets, 7 types of traps, 6 types of spears and harpoons and 5 types of hooks and lines were found to be used in the beel both traditionally and commercially. The total fish landing from the beel was recorded 85,870 kg during the study period and the pick landing season was found in the month of December. The annual landings of different types of fishes were carps 22,600 kg, catfishes 11,665 kg, small fishes 44,785 kg, prawn 2,865 kg, and others fishes 4,205 kg. Most of the fishermen are professional (55%). Among the fishermen 44.44% are illiterate and landless. Their family size is usually consists of 3-8 members and nuclear family is the predominant among the fishermen. Forty eight percent of the fishermen primary occupation was fishing, 24% was engaged in agriculture, 13% in business, 5% in daily labour and 10% in other occupation. In the study, it was found that 75% of the fishermen house holds were solely depends on village doctors for their treatment and health check up. Moreover, majority of the fishermen of the community used tube-well water for drinking and household purposes but their sanitary condition was very poor. The daily income of the fishermen was 100-150 Tk/day. They are the poorest of the poor in the society and they have no alternative livelihood option to earn their bread other than fishing.

Keywords: Basantapur beel, Fishing gears, Fish marketing, Livelihood

Location: Basantapur beel of Lalpur upazila under Natore district

Start Date: 00-11-2006

End Date: 00-10-2007

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Income generation

Objectives:

1. To provide some information about fishing gears, fish marketing, socio-economic status of the fishermen and problems associated with the livelihood in the area which is necessary for management the beel which would be helpful in planning and setting up of strategies for further development.

Methodology:

The present study was conducted in Basantapur beel at Lalpur Upazila under Natore District. For data collection, an interview schedule was designed for the study. The draft questionnaire was tested with 10 fishermen in the study area. The questionnaire was modified and rearranged according to the experience gathered in pre-testing of questionnaire. A combination of questionnaire interview and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and crosscheck interviews were conducted with the key informants such as Upazila Fisheries Officer, BRAC, Local leaders, officials of MACH project and NGOs workers. Moreover, physical observation during, fishing, landing and marketing were done personally. All the collected information were accumulated and analyzed by MS-Excel and then presented in textual, tabular and graphical forms to understand the present status of the fishing gears, fish marketing system and livelihood of the fishermen of the studied beel.

Source of Information: J. Agrofor. Environ. 3 (1): 173-177, 2009; nISSN 1995-6983

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the study information it can be concluded that the fish production, species diversity in this beel have been declining alarmingly due to the change in habitat by siltration, abstractions of water for irrigation, use of agro-chemicals in surrounding crop fields, over exploitation and indiscriminate use of gears. Besides, there was no policy for this beel fisheries management. The implementation of this sanctuary and some other beel management police should be adopted to protect the species which are a degree of extinction and recover sustainable production of the beel. The increase of fish production will definitely improve the socio-economic condition and nutritional status of the poor fishermen and nearly villagers. On the other hand, Majority of the fishermen of the beel are illiterate, so necessary steps should be taken to develop the awareness among the fishermen by GO and NGOs to protect the species which are at the degree of extinction and to have sustainable production from the beel.

Knowledge Management: Journal