BSS, Rajshahi :
Fisheries experts at a community level discussion underscored the need for enhancing fish farming through the best use of existing natural resources as an enhanced fish production can be effective means to meet protein deficiency and poverty alleviation along with employment generation.
Referring to the immense prospect of the fisheries sector, they mentioned that fish production could easily be increased to a great extent through the best use of existing natural water resources especially major rivers and their tributaries. Conservation of the water resources and other wetlands has become indispensable for the sake of boosting fish production to meet the national protein demand.
They made these observations while addressing the meeting to mark the releasing of fish fingerlings into water enclosure of the Padma River at Harishankerpur area under Godagari Upazila of the district on Monday.
Department of Fisheries under its ‘Establishment of Open Water Beel and Nursery and Fingerlings Release Project’ organized the event in association with the main thrust of boosting fish production in river water.
On the occasion, 487 kilograms of native fish species like rui, katla and mrigel were released. Project Director Dr Mijanur Rahman and Upazila Chairman Ishaque Ali Bishwash addressed the discussion as chief and special guests respectively with Mahbubul Alam, Divisional Deputy Director of Department of Fisheries, in the chair.
Senior Assistant Director Dr Niaz Uddin, Project Evaluation Officer Shirin Shila, Senior Fisheries Officer Shamsul Karim, Assistant Fisheries Officer Naimul Haque and fish farmers Shafiul Alam and Selim Reza also spoke.
The speakers put emphasis on formulation of a tough law against dumping of ponds and other natural water bodies as the aquatic biodiversity and fish production of the area have been decreasing gradually due to various manmade and natural causes.
Besides, they recommended formulating a time-fitting policy for freeing the water resources from all sorts of pollution and contamination so that the indigenous fish species could be saved from extinction.
