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How Seasonal Fish Biodiversity Is Impacting Local River Fisheries and Fishers Socioeconomic Condition: a Case Study in Bangladesh

Momi M. M. A.
College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology University, Tianjin 300457, China and Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

Islam M.S.
College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology University, Tianjin 300457, China

Farhana T.
Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali, Bangladesh.

Iqbal S.
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Paul A. K.
Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

Atique U.
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan and Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, South Korea

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

River fisheries are critical to ensure the sustainable provision of quality food and nutrition as well as economic stability of the millions of local populations in developing nations. The Fakirni River is home to a diversity of fish species. Here, we present the status and seasonal abundance of fish species in the Fakirni River and their impact on the fishermen's livelihood compared to other small rivers in Bangladesh. Monthly sampling was carried out using a lift net, and a total of 26 fish species belonging to 18 genera, ten families, and six orders were recorded during 12 months. The Shannon-Weiner diversity, species richness, evenness index, dominance, Simpson index, Brillouin index, equitability, and BergerParker indices provided 1.61±0.47, 1.93±0.53, 0.52±0.41, 0.29±0.17, 0.70±0.17, 1.47±0.41, 0.68±0.17, and 0.42±0.18, respectively. The Bray-Curtis similarity cluster analysis was performed among the diversity indices and observed three available fish species. Almost all the fishermen (91%) were Muslim of age 38.67±15.05 years and possessed fishing experience for 19.94±15.42 years, with a monthly income of BDT 4166.67±1331.85. The fishermen community neither received any training nor involvement with the NGOs or other organizations to get any financial support or loans. In conclusion, despite significantly vulnerable contexts of the community-based fisheries management system and inadequate resources, fishing's livelihood outcomes were positive. However, stringent measures must be taken to manage the river fisheries sustainably by the active involvement of the local fishermen communities.

Keywords: Fakirni River, Biodiversity indexes, Socioeconomic status, Fishermen community, Fish conservation, River fisheries

Location: The Fakirni River near Bagmara Upazila in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Fishery policies, Fisheries diversity, Socio-economic status

Objectives:

To ensure the sustainable provision of quality food and nutrition as well as economic stability of the millions of local populations in developing nations.

Methodology:

Study area: This research was carried in the Fakirni River near Bagmara Upazila in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. It is locally known as Mansinghpur and located approximately at 88^o48’ East and 24^o38’ North. Fish sampling and classification: A fish sampling was performed monthly using a traditional net, called Khora Jal (lift net), with a mesh size of 10 mm, 12 meters long, and 5 meters wide. The gear was operated at the same sampling spots for the identical hauling time between 6.00 am and 7:00 pm (about 10 hours long daytime). During this period, about 30 hauls took place. We considered the five hauls data for statistical analysis. Fish species that were difficult to identify on the spot were transported to the Aquatic Biodiversity Laboratory in the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, for prudish taxonomic classification. Only rare species were preserved in the laboratory in a 10% buffered formalin solution. The fish species were identified based on morphometric and meristic counts after following the standard keys (Bhuiyan, 1964; Rahman, 1989, 2005; Talwar and Jhingran, 1991). After identification, fish species were classified systematically following Nelson (2006). Conservation status of fishes: The local and global conservation status of fishes were determined following the list published by IUCN Bangladesh (2000) and the IUCN (2015) red-list database. Fishermen community data collection: A monthly field survey was conducted to manage the necessary demographic and socioeconomic data of 50 fishers on a random basis to avoid biases by using various participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools, especially interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). Interviews were taken with a prepared questionnaire, which was purposively developed and pretested under field situations. The FGDs were conducted to identify the problems and collect fishermen’s recommendations regarding the identified issues to communicate effective solutions. Data analyses: Biodiversity indices were calculated using PAST software. Various graphical illustrations of data were prepared with PAST software and Microsoft Excel 2016. Data on fishermen's livelihood were analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Sciences, ver. 15.00). The similarity trends (Cluster analysis) were calculated for various diversity indices by using the Bray-Curtis similarity cluster analysis to show the level of similarity between the monthly availability of fish species.

Source of Information: Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences 7(2) 79-103 2021

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present investigation is the maiden research effort exploring the Fakirni River to unveil the current status of fish diversity and the socioeconomic conditions of the fisher communities. The number of fish species recorded in the present study is relatively low compared to other rivers and beels/floodplains of Bangladesh. From this study, through the interviews of the fishermen, it has been revealed that several species of fish were found in the past, but those species have become locally extinct from this river. The amount of catch in the fishing nets was also higher in the past. Major causes of this continuous decline in yields could be the reduced or no water in some parts of the river during the dry season, river depth reduction due to siltation, resultant damages to the habitat due to siltation and feeding grounds, and over-exploitation of fisheries resources using illegal fishing gears. Future research efforts on the biology of threatened and rapidly declining species are recommended, and the research projects that establish the relationship between declining fish abundance and worsening water quality. Furthermore, it is essential to improve the living conditions of the fishermen communities to consider the importance of sustainable fishing and preservation of Fakirni River Fisheries.

Knowledge Management: Journal