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Climate Change Effects on Aquaculture: a Case Study from North Western Bangladesh

Md. Hasan Faruque
Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Alamgir Kabir
Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present research was carried out to elucidate the impacts of climate change on aquaculture in the northwestern part of Bangladesh. Primary data including fish farmer’s perceptions on climatic change and its impact on their farming practices were collected through face-to-face interviews with 120 fish farmers, 30 from each Upazila of Rajshahi district and secondary data of air temperature, rainfall and evaporation were collected from Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Present findings indicated that in the last 44 years (1971-2014) mean annual air temperature has been increased by nearly 1.1 °C, while the mean annual rainfall has decreased from 148mm to 112 mm. In addition, mean evaporation showed the increasing trends over the Rajshahi division by 0.50mm/year. As the indicators of the climatic variability, on an average 47% of fish farmers mentioned that annual temperature has increased followed by a decrease of annual rainfall (about 14%), water quality variability (about 8%) and prolonged drought (7%). Near about 6% of the fish farmer also stated that recently they have experienced more disease outbreaks in fishes as well as lowering groundwater layer. Almost 100% of medium and large-scale fish farmers mentioned that they completely depend on groundwater supply to culture fish. Moreover, a substantial percentage of the fish farmer perceived that the growth rate of the cultured fish has decreased and mortality of the fry and fingerlings due to heat shock and disease resulting in a decrease in overall total fish production. In addition, farmers also experienced excessive fish farming costs, most likely to manage the water quality of the ponds (33.33%) and to control disease outbreaks (25.8%). The majority concluded that they are not interested in involving their family members in fish farming practices because of less marginal profit compared to before and searching for new alternatives to sustain and develop their livelihood status.

Keywords: Climate change, Fish farmer’s perceptions, Fish farming, Rajshahi district

Location: Different areas of Rajshahi district (Northwest part) of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Aquaponics

Objectives:

The main objective of the present study was to explore the climate change variability in the northwestern part of Bangladesh along with local fish farmers’ perception of climate change and its impact on their fish culture practices and livelihood.

Methodology:

Study area and fish farmer selection: This research was conducted in the different areas of Rajshahi district (Northwest part) of Bangladesh. A total of four upazilas (second-lowest tier of regional administration) under the Rajshahi district known as Paba, Durgapur, Mohanpur and Bagmara were studied. A total number of 120 fish farmers, 30 from each upazila were categorized as small, medium and large scale fish farmer on the basis of the size of their fish farming areas and selection were done using multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Data collection technique This research was based on the collection and analysis of both primary and secondary data. Before collecting the primary data, a draft questionnaire was developed which was pretested with a few fish farmers of the study area. In the pretesting, much attention was given to any new information in the draft questionnaire in order to reach the objectives of the study. According to the experience gained in pre-testing, the final questionnaire was improved, rearranged and modified. The final questionnaire basically focused on the questions relevant to fish farmers’ perceptions on climate change as well as climate variability impacts. In addition, secondary data on annual temperature (1971-2014), rainfall (1971-2014) and water evaporation rate (2001-2014) of Rajshahi district were collected from the Climate division of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Dhaka. 2.3 Study period Face-to-face interview with questionnaire was carried out for a period of 5 months from July 2015 to November 2015 with 120 fish farmers of the study areas. 2.4 Data analysis The data obtained from the questionnaire survey and BMD were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis in form of frequencies, percentages, and multiple regressions by using SPSS V 20.0 developed by SPSS (mac) and MS Office Excel 2010 developed by Microsoft Corporation.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2016; 4(5): 550-556

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

There is increasing concern over the consequences of climate change for aquaculture and fisheries production all over the world. The production and distribution of fish depend strongly on environmental conditions. Changes in hydrographic and meteorological variables such as temperature, rainfall, storminess and cloudiness have all been shown to affect fish life history. Bangladesh is widely recognized to be one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. It experiences frequent natural disasters, which cause life, damage to infrastructure and economic assets, and adversely impacts fish farming. Pond fish farmers are the poorest of the poor in the country who are seriously affected by climate change. Fish farmers were mentioned that amount of fish production has decreased because of climate variability. Most of the fish farmers also cited that high temperature, decreased rainfall, seasonal variability, prolonged drought affected fish production. Due to climate change fish are susceptible to disease and could not recover from the disease. As because fish farming becoming a less profitable venture due to climate-induced factors along with anthropogenic causes in the Rajshahi district, so that fish farmer changes their occupation and that made the fish farmers socio-economic condition more vulnerable. The changing environment put the fish farmers in a great challenge as they have to shift their main occupation to alternative employment opportunities on which they are not adopted.

Knowledge Management: Journal