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Perspectives of the Coastal and Marine Fisheries of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Md. Shahidul Islam*
Laboratory of Marine Stock Enhancement Biology, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School ofAgriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-oiwakecho, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh has vast coastal and marine resources along its south edge. Due to the geographical position and climatic condition, the coastal area of the country is known as one of the highly productive areas of the world. Bangladesh is rich not only in terms of its vast water areas but also in terms of the biological diversity. One of the unique features of the coastal areas is the influence of the mangrove forests, which support a high number of fishes and other commercially important aquatic organisms. The biological and ecological values of the Bay of Bengal have been pointed out by many authors. The coastal and marine fisheries have been playing considerable roles not only in the social and economic development of the country but also in the regional ecological balance. A large number of commercially important fishes have long been exploited which are of high export values. Shrimp aquaculture has become a highly traded export-oriented industry for the last few decades. In spite of having bright prospects, marine aquaculture on a commercial basis as well as marine stock enhancement and sea ranching are yet to be developed. The marine fisheries sector has been suffering from chronic disintegration and mismanagement that have led to many consequences. Most of the commercially important fish stocks are either over exploited or under threat. Marine pollution has reached a level that could create an unmanageable situation in the near future; coastal shrimp farming has generated considerable debates due to its adverse environmental and socioeconomic impacts. The Bay of Bengal and its coastal areas are one of the most poorly studied areas of the world although it possesses high potential for further stock improvement. Proper attention is needed in every aspect of exploitation, handling and processing, export and marketing as well as in biological and institutional management strategies. The Bay of Bengal has been increasingly important for local development as well as for a global perspective. The coastal and marine fisheries of the Bay of Bengal are briefly reviewed in this paper to provide a salient feature of the available information and source base and to identify future research and management needs.

Keywords: Perspectives, Coastal, Marine, Fisheries, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

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Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Trend analysis

Objectives:

The present paper reviews the existing information on the different aspects of the coastal and marine fisheries of the Bay of Bengal, points out to the research nee ds in the future and puts forward suggestions and recommendations for the over all development of the resources.

Methodology:

This study included the following topics and sub-topics: 1. Introduction, 2. Ecology and productivity, 3. Fish and related biotic diversity3.1. Plankton, 3.2. Fishes, 3.3. Shrimps, 3.4. Crabs, 3.5. Molluscs, bivalves and reptile, 3.6. Seaweeds, 4. Stock assessment, 5. Resource utilization 5.1. Industrial trawl fishery, 5.2. Artisanal fishery, 5.3. Shrimp seed fishery, 5.4. By-catch, 6. Coastal aquaculture 6.1. Shrimp culture, 6.2. Other brackish water aquaculture, 7. Utilization of wild and farmed products, 8. Marketing and distribution of marine fishes, 9. Environmental issues9.1. Coastal and marine pollution, 9.2. Impacts of shrimp farming, 10. Management issues 10.1. Management problems, 10.2. Options for better management, 10.3. Legal and institutional framework, 11. Research needs, 12. General recommendations and conclusions.

Source of Information: Ocean & Coastal Management 46 (2003) 763–796

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Achievement/Findings:

A large increase in artisanal fishing pressure significantly lowers the number of shrimp reaching the industrial trawling grounds and results in lower overall catches in the industrial fleet. A situation like this preceded a temporary collapse of the shrimp stocks in the gulf. As a result of the impact of the destructive fishery,about 99% of the population do not get a chance to participate in the spawning process. It is evident that the enhanced production in the trawl fishery largely depends not on the trawl fishery alone but on the management of the artisanal fisheries. Therefore, the management authorities and experts should be aware of the key points in the management hierarchy. Recent ban on collecting shrimp fry from natural sources can be considered a timely step in preventing massive destruction of shrimp and other fish populations. However, such measures must take into account the socio-economic conditions and should have proper guidelines for rehabilitation of the poor fisher folk. The government authorities should critically attend the opinions of the experts and should support the research facilities in order to get better resource exploitation to keep pace with the increasing demand for fish in the new century.

Knowledge Management: Journal