EFFECTS OF INCENTIVE BASED HILSA SHAD (Tenualosa ilisha) MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES IN BANGLADESH

N C Roy, M A Rahman, M M Haque, M A Momi and A B M Zahid Habib
Journal of the Sylhet Agricultural University, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 69-77

Abstract:

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is an important diadromus fish species in the South and Southeast Asia, especially in Bangladesh. The fish has its unique nature gained international demand for its nutritional value, taste, special aroma and delicacy. It is considered as the national fish of Bangladesh and contributes significantly to the national economy. The hilsa fish is available almost throughout the year in the major rivers and their tributaries, as well as in the Bay of Bengal. During last two decades, the feeding, spawning, nursery and migratory areas of hilsa have been reduced in the up streams. Hilsa fishery is also suffering seriously from recruitment overfishing (catching jatka) and growth overfishing (catching brood hilsa). To optimise these situations, an incentive based hilsa management and conservation programme had implemented during the period of five years from July 2008 to June 2013. The on-going hilsa management activities have been designed to enhance the implementation of hilsa conservation measures during seasonal ban period, as well as to improve livelihood of jatka fishers by creating alternative income generation options. Hilsa catch data and socioeconomic information were collected from fishers through interview using prescribed format by Upazila Fisheries Officer and Field Assistant. Due to introduction of some socio-friendly management regimes, abundance of jatka was also found 195% higher and hilsa production was increased gradually year after year. Finally, the total hilsa production has increased 26.74% in the year 2012-13 in comparison to the base year (2005-06) production 2,77,123 tonnes (traditional management period).

Keywords:

Incentive, hilsa management, overfishing, conservation


Full Text

PDF

669 Views


Cite this article

N C Roy, M A Rahman, M M Haque, M A Momi and A B M Zahid Habib. 2015. EFFECTS OF INCENTIVE BASED HILSA SHAD (Tenualosa ilisha) MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES IN BANGLADESH, Journal of the Sylhet Agricultural University 2(1): 69-77.