UNB, Dhaka :
Building a Hilsa Conservation Fund through innovative policy measures can boost hilsa production by ensuring sustainable incentive-based conservation, says a new study.
The study, revealed at a discussion here on Saturday, suggested considering one percent tax on hilsa export to build a hilsa conservation fund for sustainable support to incentive-based conservation of the iconic fish, hilsa.
Executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman revealed the findings of the study, conducted in five coastal districts-Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Laxmipur and Chandpur.
The PPRC organised the programme at the National Consultation on Exploring Conservation-Livelihood Win-Wins: PPRC Research Findings on Hilsha Fishermen at The Daily Star’s conference hall in the capital.
Hossain Zillur said the government can form a fund imposing tax on hilsa export. “Hilsa could be conserved by giving financial support to fishermen from the fund.”
About the potential of hilsa, he said it has an untapped growth potential and it could be a global brand like salmon and tuna fishes.
The study shows that the government’ compensation to the fishermen not to catch hilsa during the ban period of hilsa catching has increased its production. “Total hilsa catching has increased from 1.99 lakh metric tonnes in 2002-03 to 3.51 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-13,” it says.
About the status of fishermen, the study shows about 17 percent of them are still illiterate as 69 percent fishermen completed primary education.
About 33 percent of fishermen are landless, while 40 percent have no boat and 29 percent no net to catch fish.
Hossain Zillur said the fishermen are not only economically poor, but also socially poor. “The fisherman community is the part of the poor. But the microcredit contributes to cutting poverty in the country but the fishermen are not benefited from it,” he added.
Director general of the Department of Fisheries Syed Arif Azad, director of Worldfish Centre Dr Craig A Meisner, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institue Dr Anisur Rahman, professor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Dr Abdul Wahab and project manager (Ecosystem for Life) of IUCN Bushra Nishat spoke at the discussion.
The PPRC with support from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) conducted the study on sustainable livelihood strategies for fishermen affected by the hilsa fishing ban.
