Govt plans natural fish sanctuaries to boost production
Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid today said the government is planning to establish natural fish sanctuaries in different water bodies across the country to enhance fish production from the natural sources.
“With the instruction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we are going to take a massive plan to establish sweet water natural fish sanctuaries in different haor, Baor, river, canals and sea water to revive the availability of fresh water fisheries”, he said.
The minister said while addressing a workshop titled ‘annual research progress 2025-26 and research planning 2026-27’, held at the BARC auditorium here.
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) organized the function.
The minister mentioned that there was a time when more than 300 native freshwater fish species had in Bangladesh, but many of those have disappeared while others are on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss, overfishing, pollution and climate change.
Open rivers and other bodies of water in Bangladesh are dwindling fast due to development interventions, unplanned urbanization, encroachment and siltation, which are destroying the habitats of indigenous fish species, he said.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the statuses of 64 freshwater fish species in Bangladesh range from vulnerable to critically endangered while 30 have become extinct in the wild during the last 30 to 40 years.
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) has so far revived 37 out of 67 species that disappeared from the wild through captive breeding programs and conservation efforts.
?Highlighting the tradition of "Mache-BhateBangali" (Bengali wrapped in fish and rice) and various initiatives of the current government, the minister said the country has achieved self-sufficiency in fish production today thanks to quality research in the past. ?"Significant progress has been made in farmed fish production, quality enhancement, and feed management. However, natural fish breeding grounds are now on the verge of destruction due to climate change and a lack of public awareness," he said.
He further noted that the government is moving forward this year with a substantial budget and long-term plan to overcome this crisis.
The agriculture minister issued several specific directions and calls to researchers and scientists. Emphasizing the government’s research priorities, he stressed the need to intensify research on breeding, breed development, and the recovery of various endangered indigenous fish species.
He urged researchers to address climate change's negative impacts, prevent disease, and ensure the production of quality fish fry. He also emphasized harnessing the immense potential of coastal and marine fisheries resources, increasing public awareness alongside legal enforcement to stop the use of harmful nets, and prioritizing safe fish production by refraining from using feed containing ingredients hazardous to human health.
?Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan SalauddinTuku stressed the need to maintain quality standards while boosting the country's fish production.
The taste and quality of fish largely depend on water quality. Therefore, alongside boosting fish production, pollution in water bodies must be prevented, and a suitable environment for the natural growth of fish must be ensured," the state minister said.
He added that increasing water flow and reducing waterlogging by excavating rivers and canals would ensure a suitable environment for fish, calling on all stakeholders to work together to enrich further and advance the country's fisheries sector.
Chaired by BFRI Director General Dr. Md. Latiful Islam, the event was also addressed by Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. DelwarHossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Md. Mir Hossain, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md. Shahzaman Khan, and Executive Chairman of BARC Dr. Md. Abdus Salam.
University teachers, Senior Ministry Officials, BFRI scientists, Fisheries officials, and fishermen representatives attended the event.
