STRATEGIES FOR EXPLOITATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MARINE FISHERIES RESOURCES IN BANGLADESH

Marine Fisheries of Bangladesh exploit a complex, multi-species resource, and can be subdivided into subsistence, artisanal and industrial fisheries sectors. Among the commercial catch more than 90% is landed by artisanal fisheries, while industrial fisheries contribute around 10%. Prior to the war of independence an estimated number of 9,500 sail boats and 41 mechanized boats represented the small scale fishing sector with a fish landing of 99.000 t in 1967-68, which has now exponentially increased to more than 50,000 mechanized and non mechanized boats with catch amounting 5.9 million mt by 2012 -13. Commercial trawling in offshore waters commenced in 1972 with 10 trawlers received as a gift from former USSR which gradually increased to 232 by 2014. Gradual increase of fish landing clearly indicates increase in fishing effort with a steady growth of more than 10% since 1973.  As the fishing effort is on increase there remains a risk of over fishing. To maintain productivity and to have a sustained development in the sector it demands a proper strategy. Therefore, it is imperative to know what is there in the Bay and how far can be extracted with what means. Since 1958 to 1988,  15 survey had been carried out, off which only  one indicated the demersal stock of 475 species of fish and other species of marine shrimp and shark. It also determined four fishing grounds. Depending on this single survey all types of fishing vessels are engaged in fishing in the same geographical area without any consideration of its sustainability. Because of procedural complicacies most of the boats are not registered properly and their landings are also not well monitored and regulated. Therefore, this sector needs a proper Strategy for the Exploitation and Management of the Marine Fisheries resources in the Bay of Bengal.