Chattogram Bureau :
At least about 17 to 20 species of native fish have been on the verge of extinction in five major rivers of Chattogram over the last one decade because of increased salinity in water, industrial wastes polluting rivers and sluice gates damaging breeding grounds, finds a study.The study, conducted from May 2000 to February 2020 on the rivers Karnaphuli, Halda, Sangu, Shikalbaha and Chandkhali in Chattogram, finds eel, alua, river magur, guilsa tengra, bagha aair, corop mohal, nak kata rui, dhela, horned rui, chepchela, kala bata, ghora chela under threat of extinction in the rivers. The study found 112 fish species and 18 species of shrimp and crabs in these five rivers, Dr Muhammad Ali Azadi, who headed the research, told to media.In the Karnaphuli river, 110 species of fish and 18 species of shrimp and crabs have been found.
Besides, 111 species of fish and 18 species of shrimp-crabs have been found in the Sangu River, 74 species of fish and 11 species of shrimp-crabs in the Shikalbaha River, and 72 species of fish and 11 species of shrimp-crabs in the Chandkhali River. In addition, 83 species of fish and 10 species of shrimp-crabs were found in the Halda River.
According to the study, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, 11 species of fish are no longer found in the Karnaphuli River, while 10 species are endangered. In the Sangu River, eight species of fish have vanished in recent years and 12 are endangered. And in the Halda River, six species of fish are in endangered conditions.
Prof. Md. Azadi said, “The Shikalbaha and Chandkhali are two important tributaries which connect the Sangu and Halda rivers with the Karnaphuli River. These two connected rivers facilitate the migration of fish. During the breeding season, carp fishes migrate from the Sangu to the Halda to lay eggs.”
To protect the Halda, he suggested, seasonal fishing should be banned in the river as per Bangladesh Gazette 2007 and 2010.The study found 18 species of shrimp and crab in Chattogram. However, bagda shrimp is in an endangered state in the Karnaphuli and Sangu rivers.
According to Prof Azadi, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2000 identified 54 species of fish in the country as being endangered. Again, in 2015, 64 more species were declared endangered. A teacher of the Marine Fisheries Department of CU also admitted the research study result in five rivers of Chattogram.
