The contribution of the fisheries sector is very important in building a healthy, strong and talented nation. The role of this promising sector in the national economy is constantly increasing. It can be said that the socio-economic progress and prosperity of this country is largely dependent on the development of fisheries. According to the data, the total fish production has increased to 34.10 lakh tonnes in 2012-13, with a current market value of around Tk 50,000 crore.
According to the Bangladesh Economic Survey 2013, the fisheries sector contributes 4.37 percent of the country's gross domestic product or GDP and about one-fourth (23.36 percent) of the total agricultural GDP. In recent times, the GDP growth in the fisheries sector has been much higher than other sub-sectors of agriculture such as cereals, livestock and forests. The contribution of the fisheries sector is also very important in the provision of food security in this country.
Fish provides about 80% of our daily diet. More than 11 percent of the total population of the country earns their living by engaging in various activities in this sector. In the last five years, the sector has created additional annual employment opportunities for over 6 lakh people. More than 2 percent of the country's export income comes from the fisheries sector. In the last five years, the average growth in fish production has been 5.8 percent.
The Department of Fisheries is working relentlessly under the supervision of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to achieve the targets mentioned in the Vision 2021 announced by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As a result, visible success has been achieved in the fisheries sector. It is hoped that the desired target will be achieved in 2014-15.
Targets to be achieved in the year 2014-15 25% increase in fish production from 2008-09 (26.01 lakh tonnes), (Achieved production target of 26.25% in 2012-13) Meet the demand of 56 grams of meat per capita, (Per capita intake of meat has increased to 52 grams between 2012-13) Foreign income by exporting shrimp and fish products
Upgradation to US 1 billion, Creating jobs for unemployed youth, (Annual additional employment in the last 5 years is about 6 lakh) 20% increase in income of fish farmers / fishermen, Ensuring women's participation in fisheries, (Initiatives are being taken to ensure the participation of an average of 20% women in all fields related to fisheries management) To take initiative in providing safe food in domestic and international markets. Take initiatives to provide safe food in the market.
Significant Success:
1. Increase in fish production and rural employment: In order to achieve the desired development of the country's fisheries resources, the government has taken various timely initiatives to increase fish production. According to the data, the total production of fish was 26.01 lakh tonnes in FY 2008-09, which has increased to 34.10 lakh tonnes in FY 2012-13 as a result of timely measures taken by the government and fisheries-friendly activities and provision of demand-driven technical services at farmer-entrepreneur level.
Preliminary data shows that the coveted target of 35.55 lakh tonnes of fish production will be achieved in the 2013-14 financial year. If this trend of growth continues, it is expected that the country will achieve 45.52 lakh tonnes of fish production by 2020-21. As a result, it will be possible to meet the projected fish demand (45.26 lakh tonnes) for the growing population of the country in 2020-21. A review of the fish production over the last 10 years shows that the annual growth in this sector is quite encouraging (average growth of 5.49 per cent) and there is almost stability in this sector.
The increase in fish production in the country has increased the income of poor fishermen and created additional employment opportunities. According to the data, more than 11 per cent or about 181 lakh people of the country, regardless of gender, are directly or indirectly dependent on the fisheries sector for their livelihood. About 10 percent of the population in the fisheries sector are women, which is about one percent of the total population of the country.
In addition, in the last five years, the sector has directly and indirectly created additional annual employment opportunities for more than 6 lakh poor people. Moreover, various studies have shown that more than 60 per cent of the workers currently employed in fish processing factories are women.
Inland open water bodies of Bangladesh (rivers, Sundarbans, Kaptai Lake, beels and floodplains) amount about 39 lakh 20 thousand hectares, closed water bodies (ponds, seasonally cultivated water bodies, baor and shrimp enclosures) amount 8 lakh 83 thousand hectares, marine waters amount 1 lakh 6 thousand square km. And the coastline is 610 km. According to the available data, the total production of fish in 1983-84 was 8.54 lakh tonnes, where it has increased to 34.10 lakh tonnes in three decades.
The sector-wise production review of the last three decades shows that the contribution of open water bodies in 1973-74 was 63 per cent but in 2012-13 the share of this sector stood at only 28 per cent. On the other hand, the contribution of closed water bodies has increased three and a half times in almost three decades. Although fish production in open water has not declined, it has not been possible to keep the growth at the desired level mainly due to various natural and man-made constraints.
2. Establishment of Pona Release Program and Establishment of Bill Nursery:
Under the Pona Release Program in open water, about 490 tons of quality and endangered species of fry have been released in the country under the revenue and development budget in 2013-14. In the last five years, the total release of pona fish is about three and a half thousand tons. As a result of this pona fish release program, about 6,500 tons of extra fish is being produced annually and many endangered species of fish have already emerged.
Moreover, during the tenure of this government, Bill Nursery activities were taken up for the first time in the country under the Department of Fisheries. In the last five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14, a total of 615 bill nurseries have been established in the revenue budget. In the year 2013-14, 208 bill nurseries have been established.
3. Establishment of Community Based:
Fisheries Management and Fisheries Sanctuary: In order to establish the rights of the concerned beneficiaries including fishermen and fishermen concerned in the reservoir and to ensure the biological management of the reservoir, the government has already formulated Government Water Mahal Management Policy 2009. Under this policy, for the sustainable development of inland water resources, activities are being carried out to build community based organizations consisting of water body related beneficiaries / fishermen.
4. Expansion of eco-friendly shrimp farming:
Shrimp is one of the major export products of Bangladesh. With the increase in demand for shrimp in the international market, the initiative to introduce better farming management in the coastal shrimp farms of this country is continuing. In addition to the expansion of eco-friendly shrimp farming in these farms, integrated integrated shrimp-grain / vegetable farming system is also being introduced.
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