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Efficiency of Fishing Gears and Their Effects on Fish Biodiversity and Production in the Chalan Beel of Bangladesh

Md. Abu Sayeed
Department of Fisheries Technology and Quality Control, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh

M. A. Wahab
Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Mostafa Ali Reza Hossain
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

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

Shaharior Hashem
PhD Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A study was conducted to provide an overview on the aquatic resources and fisheries status of the Chalan beel and to identify the opportunities for improvement of the existing fisheries management strategies, focusing on fish biodiversity conservation. The Chalan beel is the largest and important watershed in the Northern Bangladesh which covers an area of about 400 km² during the wet season. Sampling for Catch Assessment Surevey (CAS), Fishing Effort Survey (FES) and watersediment was carried out at the Gumani, the Katagang and the Baral sites. Interview and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted in ten upazilas in and around Chalan beel. The most abundant fish species were punti (Puntius sophore and Puntius ticto) followed by chanda (Chanda nama and Parambassis ranga), tengra (Mystus vittatus) and chapila (Gudusia chapra). The abundance of several species showed decreasing trend from 2007 to 2008. The number of professional fishers has declined by 58% between 1982 and 2008 and the fishers left the profession due to much decreased fish availability in the beel as a result of very low fish catch and falling income. A total of 34 different types of fishing gears including nets (11), traps (11), hook and lines (4), wounding gears (4), Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) (3) and hand-fishing (1) were observed. Seine nets were the dominant gear followed by gill nets and set bag nets. The mean Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of different fishing gears varied widely ranging from 2.04 to 48.99 kg unit⁻¹ day⁻¹. The average total annual fish production of the beel was 12,566.57 MT having average fish production of 281.86 kg ha^-1during the study period. If present trend of fish catching of Chalan beel legally and illegally continues without proper management and control measures, then one of the most valuable aquatic resources of Bangladesh –the Chalan beel would soon be empty of all kinds of fishes. It is the obligation of concerned GOs, NGOs and the people of the country to control the gear efficiency in the Chalan beel and provide alternative livelihood options to the resource-poor fishers of the beel along with other measures for sustainability of the Chalan beel - a major fish reservoir of the country.

Keywords: Fishing Gear, Biodiversity, Catch Assessment Survey, Fishing Effort Survey

Location: Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajgang, Natore, Naogoan and Bogra.

Start Date: 00-00-2007

End Date: 00-00-2008

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Aquatic animal

Objectives:

1. To provide an overview on the aquatic resources and fisheries status of the Chalan beel and 2. To identify the opportunities for improvement of the existing fisheries management strategies, focusing on fish biodiversity conservation.

Methodology:

Description of the study area: The Chalan beel is situated between 24.35^o and 24.70^o North latitude and 89.10^o and 89.35^o East longitudes. Historically Chalan beel was spread over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajgang, Natore, Naogoan and Bogra. At present, the beel has been compressed in the districts of Pabna, Sirajgonj and Natore due to crisscross roads, embankments and other infrastructural expansion. Therefore, the research was conducted in three representative cluster sites under the above districts. For data collection, ten upazilas such as Singra, Gurudaspur and Boraigram of Natore district, Chatmohar, Bhangura and Faridpur of Pabna and Shahjadpur, Ullapara, Tarash and Raygonj of Sirajganj district were selected. Experimental site: In experimental site, three cluster sites covering a river, a canal and a beel were selected for this study. The cluster sites were the Gumani and its adjacent floodplains (CS1 - the Gumani) under Natore, the Katagang and its adjacent floodplains (CS2 - the Katagang) under Sirajgong and the Baral and its adjacents floodplains (CS3 - the Baral) under Pabna district where the sampling for CAS and FES were performed. Data collection: The study was conducted based on the data collected through direct CAS and FES sampling from the CS1, CS2 and CS3; also direct interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with different stakeholders with sufficient replicates from in and around the upazilas. The FGDs were conducted with a pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaire involving people from all sections.Catch assessment and gear survey: Fishing Effort Survey (FES) and Catch Assessment Survey (CAS) were conducted using a boat starting from 6 am to 6 pm twice in a month over 12 months in two years during fishing seasons. Each sampling was performed in the same sampling locations with three replicates twice a month during July to December in 2007 and 2008. Catch effort calculation: The catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the gears were taken based on the weight of fish caught during a fishing day (kg day⁻¹ fishing unit⁻¹) for the different species combined. The catch efficiency of each gear employed in each fishing site was analyzed by comparing different gear on the basis of CPUE, i.e., the amount of fish caught for a certain period, for example amount of fish caught per day. Fluctuations in the fish catch were also compared. The CPUE value was extrapolated to the mean catch gear⁻¹day⁻¹person^-1, mean catch crew⁻¹ day⁻¹ (MCCD) and mean catch boat⁻¹day⁻¹. Calculation of total catch per unit area (CPUA) for the sampling sites The Catch per Unit Area (CPUA) for the sampling sites calculated as CPUA = (Total catch from sampling sites for all gears + Total catch from brush parks)/sampled area. Finally, the total annual catch for the beel was estimated by multiplying the CPUA with the total productive water area of the beel. The production of ponds and boro pits was estimated multiplying the average production per hectare with total area. Cross-checking of data The Upazila Fisheries Officers (UFOs) and other stakeholders including fishers were interviewed about the use, pattern and intensity of different gears in the water body to know the real situation as well as cross checking the collected data. Finally, all the data were analyzed statistically. Also it was reviewed with the secondary data sources mainly reports of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), research reports, case studies, NGO reports, scientific journal articles and other published materials including internet resources. Statistical analysis: Various types of models were used in this study. The coefficient of variation (CV) analysis assessed the variability in the CPUE by gear types. The differences in CPUE of the catch and production between months and fishing sites were analyzed employing analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques. A similar ANOVA technique was employed to test the difference in the CPUE of katha fishing in the catchments site, year, months and also their interaction.

Source of Information: European Scientific Journal October 2014 edition vol.10, No.30 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Chalan beel is a moderate productive water body with decreasing fish species diversity. Species selectivity of different gears differed considerably. Nets were found more harmful than those of other gears. At the onset of monsoon, each year, the large number of spawners and spawns enter in the Chalan beel and caught by mono-filament gill nets and mosquito seine nets set in the migratory route. These types of illegal fishing practices were widespread and resource-poor fishers continued these for their livelihood as they could not find other alternative works during the period.

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