Vol. 9 No. 1
Conservation status of fin fish and shell fish in Haria beel in Bangladesh and prospect for utilizing the beel for conservation and production of fish
Author(s): B. K. CHAKRABORTY, S. A. AZAD,A. SIDDIQA, K. M. MOINUL
Abstract: Present status of aquatic biodiversity and the prospect for raising fish fingerlings in the Haria beel in Bangladesh has been presented. A total number of 84 aquatic species (71 wild fish, five prawn, one crab, four snail and three fresh water turtle) were identified in the beel during 2007-2010. About ten types of fishing methods were identified to be used by the fishers\' of the surveyed beel. Increasing pressure of illegal current jal (gill net), Kapuri jal (sein net) and FAD (Fish aggregating device) were detected as detrimental gear and killing method almost all type of species. Over a period of 3 years, total production of fish and allied species in the Haria beel was found to decrease from 178.60±5.50 to 115.98±4.12 t indicating 35.06% decline between 2007 and 2009. Due to increasing fishing pressure and global affect, commercially important 7 species were extinct, 15 species were critically endangered, 27 species were endangered, 27 species were vulnerable status, 4 species were in lower risk and 04 species were not threatened position from biodiversity view point. But in 2010, strict enforcement of fish Act-1950 in the beel resulted in reduces rate of use of gill net, sein net and FAD. Initiation of new technology for production of carp fingerlings in the Haria beel through community based co-management policy and enforcement of Fish Regulation Act-1950, helped to augment productivity of the recorded beel from 115.98±4.12 to 184.32±3.49 t exhibiting 103.20% biomass enhancement. Two species bata (Labeo bata) and along (Rasbora elanga) were found to have reappeared in the beel and surrounding floodplains. Note: Beel=Seasonally flooded large water bodies and are used as crop land during dry season. Khal=A narrow channel connected between beel and river.
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