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Socio-economic Status of Shrimp (penaeus Monodon) Post-larvae (pl) Collectors in Cox's Bazar with Emphasis on Violation of Restriction on Wild Pl Collection

M. Mostafa
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh

'P. P. Debnath
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh

I B. Biswas
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh

M. M. Iqbal
WorldFish Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The main purpose of this study was to assess the socio-economic status of Bagda shrimp (Penaeus monodon) post-larvae collectors in Cox's Bazai , Bangladesh and to identify the causes of ignorance to comply with the government restriction on PL collection. Among the PL collectors, 60% were found Burmese (national of Myanmar) refugee. The average family size of the PL collectors was 8.28 where the percentage of adult male, female and children (below 18 years) were 27, 28 and 45 respectively. The highest number (26%) of PL collectors fall in 21 to 30 years age group having a 1:1.4 dependency ratio. Sixty: fight percent of PL collectors were found illiterate. Only more than two-fifth of the respondents (44%) had their own land with an average land size of 0.03 ha. Sixty-four percent of families had annual income ranged Tk. 50 to 70 thousand where per capita annual income was calculated as Tk. 8243.48. The money lenders (Dadonder) issued loans to the PL collectors with a very high rate of interest (averagely 234.15%) that made the PL collectors' annual family income always insufficient for livelihood. The banning of PL collection from nature imposed by the Government of Bangladesh is being ignored due to the poverty of the PL collectors, high demand for natural PL, lack of alternate jobs for livelihood, illiteracy and unawareness. As PL collection is intimidation for saving the biodiversity of nature, proper implementation of the restriction on PL collection is crucially needed. However, the event implementation can not be successful without the creation of alternate job options and proper awareness for this group of poor people.

Keywords: Socio-economics, Shrimp post-larvae collection, Restriction, Violation.

Location: Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-02-2007

End Date: 00-09-2007

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Shrimp

Objectives:

The majority of the poorest fry collectors that engage in this activity as their main -source of livelihood are not food secured for a part of the year. They have poor access to housing and limited or no access to health care; mostly illiterate and children drop out of school due to economic necessity (Rahman, 1994). However, the fry collectors mainly rely on PL catch for their livelihood where their per capita income and living standard are at the lowest ebb (Chowdhury, 1994). Therefore, the study was carried out, (i) to identify the socio-economic status of the collector community; (ii) to identify the causes of ignoring ban of PL catch and (iii) to find out a possible ways to make the ban implemented successfully.

Methodology:

Study area and period: This study was conducted in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh throughout eight months from February to September, 2007. For data collection, the study area was divided into five sites namely, Labonee beach (A), Hirnsory beach (B), Sonarpara beach (C), Monkhali beach (D) and Teknaf beach (E) amid the PL collecting community and PL market. The study covered 16 villages (Char Para, Bahar Chara, Baddagona, South Kalatoly, Bar Chara, Sonar para, Dale para, lnani, Chong khali, Mon khali, Kachu Bunia, Kunker para, Baharchara ghat, Khormu ghat, Safatdea, Tulatoli) of three Upazila named Cox's Bazar sadar, Ukhia and Teknaf.

Data collection: Data were collected by using a questionnaire, through focus group discussion and physical observation. For questionnaires, 20 respondents were sampled randomly from each of five sites constituting a total of 100. Information of PL catch (daily and seasonal basis), marketing, price etc. were collected by open-ended questions to PL collectors and by direct observations in the sites. Information of a number of people engaged in wild PL collection (daily and seasonal basis), alternative occupation, gears used etc. were collected from focus group discussion. In most cases, information was cross-checked by repeated interviews on separate days and direct observations were also done as a compliment. Data analysis: All the data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel software. The dependency ratio was calculated by dividing the total number of dependent members (who had no remarkable occupation including students) by the total number of earning members of each family.

Source of Information: South Asian 1. Agric., 2007, 2(1&2):135-140 ISSN 1991-0037

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Improvement of socio-economic conditions of PL collectors and the implementation of the ban on PL collection both are important to be considered. But in this study, it was found contradictory between the two aspects. Therefore, the arrangement of alternative livelihood for the poor collectors could be an effective measure to sustain wild PL. The Government should establish a special project to create alternative options of livelihood and thus to implement the conservation rules successfully.

Knowledge Management: Journal