Bans helped achieve self-sufficiency in fish production

Bangladesh has made such remarkable progress in fish production in recent years, that the country is now one of the biggest fish producers in the world, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru said yesterday.

“The success of Bangladesh in fish production is now recognised. Currently, we are the first in hilsa production, third in producing fish from inland water bodies, fourth in tilapia production and fifth in aquaculture production,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks at a press conference held at the Department of Fisheries in the capital. The ministry organised the event marking National Fisheries Week, to be observed till July 23.

Ashraf said the government’s imposition of bans on fishing have a significant contribution to achieving success in making the country self-sufficient in fish production, although they create temporary difficulties to fishermen’s livelihood.

In the 2017-18 fiscal, the country’s total demand of fish was about 42,38,000 tonnes. But the production was 39 tonnes surplus, ensuring self-sufficiency for the second consecutive year, said Ashraf.

“All of these are reflections of the government’s timely initiatives -- such as ban on fishing jatka [hilsa fry] and sea fish during breeding season,” he added.

The government implements the ban on fishing jatka for eight months (November to June) every year. The 65-day ban on saltwater fishing is from May 20 to August 23.

Last year, Bangladesh for the first time became self-sufficient in fish, producing a total of 41,34,000 tonnes of fishes -- 84,000 tonnes more than the demand.

At the conference, the state minister said the government is very much aware of the sufferings of fishermen during the ban.

“That is why we took several initiatives so that they don’t have to starve. We issued specific identity cards for them to provide food support during the ban. We also initiated several social safety net programmes for them,” he said.

About observance of fisheries week, Ashraf said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the event today through giving away “National Fisheries Award 2019” at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka.

Several seminars, discussions and fairs will also be held at different parts of the country on the occasion, he added.

Department of Fisheries Director General Abu Sayed Md Rashedul Haque and Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Chairman Dilder were also present at the press conference.