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Abundance, Migration and Management of Jatka (juvenile Hilsa, Tenualosa Ilisha) in the Gajner Beel, Pabna, Bangladesh

M.A. Mazid
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Mymensingh 2201, Bangladesh

M. J. Rahman
Marine Fisheries & Technology Station, BFRI, Cox's Bazar 4700, Bangladesh

M.G. Mustafa
WorldFish Center Bangladesh, House 22B, Road 7, Block F, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Studies on the abundance, migration and management of Jatka (juvenile hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha) 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, Bangladesh. The main Jatka season was found to be extended from mid August to mid October. Veshal/Bandh/Khora Jal (lift net) and Ber Jal (beach seine net) were found as the major gears involved in Jatka fishing. The estimated total amount of Jatka caught from the Beel during the studied season was 46.2 t. The migratory route of Jatka is extended from the Padma and/or Jamuna rivers to the Badai river and then to the Beel through the sluice gate. The possibility of breeding of hilsa in the Beel was nullified. Finally, a community based management plan was suggested for implementation by the Gajner Beel management committee.

Keywords: Jatka, Tenualosa ilisha, Beel, Migration, Hilsa

Location: Sujanagar Upazila of Pabna district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2004

End Date: 00-00-2004

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Hilsa

Objectives:

To report the abundance, possibility of spawning, migration, fishing methods, fishing season and landings of Jatka in the Gajner Beel.

Methodology:

Study area: The study area was the Gajner Beel, located around the south-east corner of the ?Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development Project (PIRDP). The PIRDP is located in the Sujanagar (partly attached to Sathia and Bera) Upazila of Pabna district, Bangladesh at the confluence of the Padma and 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 wen as migration of fish to and from the Beel. Survey of the Beel areas: The Gajner Bed and adjacent Water bodies were surveyed in September'04. The entire water areas of the Bee! were visited by boat and the sull.Tounding land areas were visited by local transportation and on foot. During the visit, information on the Beels and its :resources were collected through interviewing the local people including fishers. Identification of Jatka: To identify the species of Jatka of the Gajner Beel, Jatka sample was collected from the Bed and brought to the laboratory of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh. In the laboratory the morphometric and meristic characteristics of the }atka was compared with the morphometric and meristic characteristics of juvenile hilsa and confirmed that the jatka is the juvenile of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha. Special care was taken in separating other two Jatka-like species, viz. Gudusia chapra and Goniolosa manmina. Identification of the migratory routes of jatka: During the survey, special emphasis was given on the availability of Jatka and examining the possibility of breeding of hilsa in the Beel Possible migratory routes of hilsa juveniles in Gajner Beel were also taken into consideration. The connection of the Bee to the surrounding land and water areas were noted. The water level and water level management systems, i.e. the sluice gates operations were monitored throughout the year. The possibility of the survival of hilsa in the Beel was monitored monthly by examining water levels, water qualities and catch compositions. In the dry season (December-June), the Beel almost dried up and no hilsa was found in the catch. The water level and water quality were absolutely unfavourable for hilsa to survive in the dry season. Therefore, hilsa juveniles must come from the connected water bodies to the Beel i.n the rainy season (July-November). During the survey it was confirmed that the connected water body is the Badai river which is again connected to the Padma/Jamuna rivers (Fig. l) and this route was considered as the migratory route of the Jatka to and from the Beel. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique was used for gathering baseline information about the Gajner Bed, its resources, management system, conflicts and related problems. Particular emphasis was given on the information about the availability of Jatka in the Bed. Specific information regarding the abundance, distribution, fishing and marketing of Jatka in the Bed were collected during the PRA sessions. The opinions of important stakeholders in addressing the existing problems of infrastructure development of the Beel and resource management were also considered. The tool used to conduct the PRA was the Focus Group Discussion, which included all of the important stakeholders, such as fishers, agriculture land-owners, lease holders, sluice gate operators, government officials and local people. Monitoring water quality parameters: Some important water quality parameters of the Gajner Beel were monitored on monthly basis during September 2004-August 2005, except the dry season (December-June) when water was not available for sampling. The parameter included water colour, depth, temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen content and pH. Water current and its direction were also monitored. The water quality parameters of the Beel were studied with a view to understand the relationship between water quality and abundance of jatka in such a remote Bed, located upstream far away from the present breeding and nursery grounds of hilsa. Collection of fish samples: Fish samples were collected monthly from the Gajner Beel. The samples were brought to the laboratory at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh and preserved in formalin for further analysis. From the samples, catch rate and species composition were analyzed. Each of the species of finfishes was separated carefully. Special care was taken in separating other two Jatka-like species, viz. Gudusia chapra and Goniolosa manmina. After that, weight (g) of each of the species was taken and the percentage composition of each of the species was calculated. Estimation of the amount of jatka: The amount 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 motorized boat to count the gears involved in jatka fishing in the jatka season (mid August-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 J. Fish. Res., 9(2), 2005: 191-202

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Funding Source:

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Achievement/Findings:

The main Jatka season was found to be extended from mid August to mid October. Veshal/Bandh/Khora Jal (lift net) and Ber Jal (beach seine net) were found as the major gears involved in Jatka fishing. The estimated total amount of Jatka caught from the Beel during the studied season was 46.2 t. The migratory route of Jatka is extended from the Padma and/or Jamuna rivers to the Badai river and then to the Beel through the sluice gate. The possibility of breeding of hilsa in the Beel was nullified. Finally, a community based management plan was suggested for implementation by the Gajner Beel management committee

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