Fish production on the rise

Fish production rose 3 per cent year-on-year to 45 lakh tonnes in fiscal 2019-20, thanks to increased aquaculture, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

"We have achieved 9.1 per cent growth in fish production in the last one decade," Minister SM Rezaul Karim told a press briefing at the Department of Fisheries marking "Fisheries Week" which began yesterday.

Total fish production stood at 4,276,640 tonnes in fiscal 2017-18, showed data from the Department of Fisheries.

Karim said Bangladesh's success in fish production was globally recognised, with its output from open water bodies being the world's third largest while that from closed-system aquaculture fifth. Bangladesh is the top hilsa producing nation and fourth largest producer of tilapia, he added.

He said aquaculture and fisheries created income opportunities for many migrant workers forced to return for the Covid-19 fallouts, playing an important role in rehabilitating the unemployed.

Increased fish production contributes to meeting nutrition requirements, he said, urging all to refrain from using fish feed which could end up being toxic for human health.

Karim also said the government was trying to ensure the recovery of 31 endangered species of fish through artificial breeding.