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Role of Co-management in Wetland Productivity: a Case Study from Hail Haor in Bangladesh

Sabuj K. Mazumder
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi Selangor, D.E., Malaysia and Department of Aquatic Resource Management, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Simon K. Das
Corresponding author:
Marine Ecosystem Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Mazlan A. Ghaffar
School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Md. H. Rahman
Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR), House no. 6/14, Block no. A, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Monoj K. Majumder
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Lipi R. Basak
Sylhet District Dairy Farm, Department of Livestock, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, People Republic of Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study provides an overview of the current resources and fisheries status of the Hail haor, and identifies the scope of opportunities to evolve existing fisheries management strategies, focusing on fish biodiversity conservation. Hail haor is one of the largest, most important wetlands in North-East Bangladesh, and covers an area of about 18,000 ha during the monsoon season. A fish catch survey was carried out in the fishing season (April to June 2013) in the studied areas. A total of 1310 individuals was found, representing 54 fish species. To preserve this wetland, the government introduced a comanagement system in 1998 through a project entitled “Management of Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH)”. Through this project, some Resource Management Organizations (RMOs) were formed by involving all resource users and stakeholders from the adjacent haor regions. RMOs in Hail haor serve as a platform for bringing together community people and concerned stakeholders to work towards sustainable development of this haor. We compared the performance of Borogangina and Dumuria RMOs who are responsible for managing the major part of the Hail haor. The results of the survey report revealed that the Borogangina RMO performed better (score 80.60) than Dumuria RMO (score 66), because of superior communication with authorities and more effective organizational capabilities. Nevertheless, resource users in both RMOs benefitted after establishing the co-management system in the Hail haor. Several management strategies were suggested by the stakeholders including continuing co-management, increasing monitoring, and the findings are discussed in the context of overall developments in the Hail haor fisheries and community development, and also biodiversity management.

Keywords: Inland fishery, Haor, Livelihoods, Resource management, Biodiversity, Conservation, NGO

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Haor, Wetland

Objectives:

To evaluate the biodiversity status and also to reveal the impact and performance of existing co-management systems, especially in two RMOs, namely Borogangina and Dumuria RMO in the Hail haor, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Study area. The study was conducted in Hail haor (24°25’3”N and 91°40’57”E) in Sreemongal and Moulavi Bazar Upazila under Moulavibazar District of Sylhet Division Bangladesh. The total area of Hail haor is around 18,000 ha: in wet season the area goes underwater is approximately 14,000 ha, whereas in dry season the area is typically just over 4,000 ha on an average. This haor has 14 wetland sanctuaries including 130 beels. About 172,000 people live in 61 villages; all of them, more or less, are dependent on its resources for their livelihoods (Chakraborty et al 2005). A total of eight RMOs, namely: Agari, Ramedia, Borogangina, Jethua, Kajura, Dumuria, Balla and Sananda were formulated for the management of Hail haor resources, involving 548 members where 426 members are general body members (Male 317, Female 109) and 122 are executive members (Male 92, Female 30). A total of 21 beels are managed under these RMOs. Among the eight RMOs only Borogangina and Dumuria RMOs were selected for the study. We selected these two RMOs based on advice from local leaders and fishing organizations, who indicated that these two RMOs manage major economically important fishing sites of the Hail haor (Majumder et al 2013). Survey methods. A multi-stage random sampling technique was applied for the study. We interviewed 173 people, following a standard questionnaire with questions about education level, occupation, and fishing activities (Table 1). Additionally, six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted; two FGDs from two RMOs and rest were with the local community, fisherman, FRUG members and government and NGOs officials who are not the members of RMOs; four Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) also conducted with the RMOs members. A semi-structured questionnaire and checklist (Pimbert & Pretty 1995) was used for the interview, KIIs and FGDs. Field survey was conducted over a period of three months from April to June 2013. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) were conducted from questionnaire surveys and interview with the stakeholders. Method of fish biodiversity study. In this study, a total of 60 fishermen were randomly selected from the villages surrounding the haor. Fishermen were categorized into five groups on the basis of fishing gears which were used by them (seine net, cast net, big cast net, gill net, and push net). Each group had 12 members operating the same gear. New members were selected in each group at every sampling day. For the study of biodiversity of Hail haor, sampling of catches and their assessment were carried out once a month. Data were collected from every group on each sampling day. The representative sample was taken by hand without repetition of the same gear in each sampling day. The collected fishes were identified and sorted species-wise and the number of individuals for each species was counted and then percent composition was determined. The taxonomic guide by Rahman (1989) and Al-Mamun (2003) were used for the identification of fish species except for some larger and more common fish, which were identified on-site. The Museum and Laboratory Specimen unit of the Faculty of Fisheries, SAU, Bangladesh were also used for this purpose. The collected data were analyzed with the help of MS Excel and OriginTM version 9 software. During the collection of data, both primary and secondary sources were used. Primary data were collected from fishermen by the researcher himself. The secondary information was collected from the fisheries office at Srimongol Upazila, the World Fish Center and other concerned government and NGOs that have been working extensively on fisheries resources on Hail haor.

Source of Information: AACL Bioflux, 2016, Volume 9, Issue-3.

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.bioflux.com.ro/aacl

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The fishing benefits and livelihood improvement of the co-management initiatives in the Hail haor are encouraging and indicate that co-management could be a viable strategy for addressing the heterogeneity of fisheries in wetland management, and a viable alternative to protected areas. Co-management may also help to maintain the sustainability of fisheries in large tropical wetland basins including Bangladesh. However, although co-management may potentially contribute to local conservation and development efforts, systematic programme assessments will be essential to ensure long-term conservation and livelihood success. The present study suggests that the importance of Hail haor for the livelihoods of the community living in the immediate area and in that part of Bangladesh, in general, is immeasurable; that co-management activities should be further enhanced; and that all fishers surrounding the villages should actively participate in co-management institutions and activities. Monitoring attitudes, behaviours and the health of the resource base are critical elements of resource sustainability. It is also imperative that strategies must be developed with input from scientists, resource managers, policymakers, government and non-government organizations and other relevant stakeholders, with the objectives of enhancing production, maintaining biodiversity in a sustainable manner and improving the livelihoods of the remaining, highly marginal fishermen in this region.

Knowledge Management: Journal