UNB, Dhaka :
Although climatic factors have been playing a major role in damaging the fish biodiversity worldwide along with overfishing, the fisher community in Bangladesh is still unaware how it takes its toll on their livelihood, says a recent study.
The fishers identify the manifestations and consequences of climate change like temperature fluctuations, rainfall changes, early flood and increasing drought that contribute to changing fish’s breeding season, biodiversity, growth and taste, but they do not necessarily attribute this to climate change as a technical concept.
They, however, often mention huge fluctuations of traditional weather conditions.
Bijoya Paul, M Hasan Faruque and Dewan Ali Ahsan of the Fisheries Department at Dhaka University conducted the study titled, ‘Consequences of Climate Change on Fish Biodiversity in the River Turag, Bangladesh: A Community Perception Study’.
The study was carried out in the Turag River running through Kaliakoir in Gazipur, aiming to know the local community’s perceptions about the manifestations and consequences of climate change. The study spanned over a three-month period from September 17, 2012.
The Turag River is the upper tributary of the Buriganga, a major river in Bangladesh.
The study reveals that about 67 percent non-fishers and 60 percent of fishers think temperature is increasing while 20 percent of non-fishers and 30 percent fishers feel there is no change in the temperature.
About 67 percent and 70 percent non-fishers and fishers see early flood events respectively, while 13 percent and 10 percent of non-fishers and fishers see late arrival of floods, and 20 percent respondents of both non-fishers and fishers observe that there has been no change.
The study observed that the frequency of flooding has increased, while the stream flows slowed down, resulting in increased siltation.
Besides, majority of the respondents say that rainfall has drastically decreased and thus the breeding season of fishes changed pushing decreased of fish growth. Around 80 percent and 70 percent of non-fishers and fishers perceived that rainfall has been decreasing.
About 80 percent respondents of both non-fishers and fishers observed that the fish breeding season is changing while about 80 percent of both fishers and non-fishers think that fish growth and taste have changed.
The majority of the respondents perceived that fish biodiversity has drastically decreased since 15 years and they noted that the recent temperature has been warmer than in the past, and the frequency of drought has also been on the rise.
The study reveals climate change gradually alters species interactions by changing the timing of physiological events. Altered temperature regimes may advance or delay the timing of reproduction for many fish species.
During the study, the researchers found 94 fish species in the Turag River while 28 fish species were threatened species.
The endangered fish species include Bagha, Air, Chenua, Ghaura, Bacha, Rida and Shar puti are critically endangered in the river while Chaka, Chital, Kalibaush, Goinna, Dankina, Rani, Putul, Batashi, Guzi Air, Kani Pabda, Pabda, Madhu Pabda, Ghorakata, Gojar, Silong and Boro baim.
Identifying the reasons behind the extinction of fish species, the study said climate change alone is not responsible for this. Indiscriminate fishing, use of pesticides in the agricultural land which drains in the river through rains, lack of fish sanctuary and awareness, and violation of fish acts are blamed for the destruction of fish biodiversity.
Although climatic factors have been playing a major role in damaging the fish biodiversity worldwide along with overfishing, the fisher community in Bangladesh is still unaware how it takes its toll on their livelihood, says a recent study.
The fishers identify the manifestations and consequences of climate change like temperature fluctuations, rainfall changes, early flood and increasing drought that contribute to changing fish’s breeding season, biodiversity, growth and taste, but they do not necessarily attribute this to climate change as a technical concept.
They, however, often mention huge fluctuations of traditional weather conditions.
Bijoya Paul, M Hasan Faruque and Dewan Ali Ahsan of the Fisheries Department at Dhaka University conducted the study titled, ‘Consequences of Climate Change on Fish Biodiversity in the River Turag, Bangladesh: A Community Perception Study’.
The study was carried out in the Turag River running through Kaliakoir in Gazipur, aiming to know the local community’s perceptions about the manifestations and consequences of climate change. The study spanned over a three-month period from September 17, 2012.
The Turag River is the upper tributary of the Buriganga, a major river in Bangladesh.
The study reveals that about 67 percent non-fishers and 60 percent of fishers think temperature is increasing while 20 percent of non-fishers and 30 percent fishers feel there is no change in the temperature.
About 67 percent and 70 percent non-fishers and fishers see early flood events respectively, while 13 percent and 10 percent of non-fishers and fishers see late arrival of floods, and 20 percent respondents of both non-fishers and fishers observe that there has been no change.
The study observed that the frequency of flooding has increased, while the stream flows slowed down, resulting in increased siltation.
Besides, majority of the respondents say that rainfall has drastically decreased and thus the breeding season of fishes changed pushing decreased of fish growth. Around 80 percent and 70 percent of non-fishers and fishers perceived that rainfall has been decreasing.
About 80 percent respondents of both non-fishers and fishers observed that the fish breeding season is changing while about 80 percent of both fishers and non-fishers think that fish growth and taste have changed.
The majority of the respondents perceived that fish biodiversity has drastically decreased since 15 years and they noted that the recent temperature has been warmer than in the past, and the frequency of drought has also been on the rise.
The study reveals climate change gradually alters species interactions by changing the timing of physiological events. Altered temperature regimes may advance or delay the timing of reproduction for many fish species.
During the study, the researchers found 94 fish species in the Turag River while 28 fish species were threatened species.
The endangered fish species include Bagha, Air, Chenua, Ghaura, Bacha, Rida and Shar puti are critically endangered in the river while Chaka, Chital, Kalibaush, Goinna, Dankina, Rani, Putul, Batashi, Guzi Air, Kani Pabda, Pabda, Madhu Pabda, Ghorakata, Gojar, Silong and Boro baim.
Identifying the reasons behind the extinction of fish species, the study said climate change alone is not responsible for this. Indiscriminate fishing, use of pesticides in the agricultural land which drains in the river through rains, lack of fish sanctuary and awareness, and violation of fish acts are blamed for the destruction of fish biodiversity.
