Sylhet Correspondent :
The sweetwater fish species are on decline from the water bodies including haors and canals in Sylhet division. About 46 species are on the list as the waterbodies have also been reduced due to construction of unplanned embankments and roads, filling up of ponds, excessive use of insecticides and pesticides alongside indiscriminate fishing, official sources said referring a recent survey in the region. Waterbodies like Tanguar Haor, Hakaluki Haor, Dekhar Haor and Shonir Haor, the prime sources of fish in the greater Sylhet region for ages, according to sources of Sylhet Divisional Fishery Office. A major portion of the country’s fish demand is managed from these sources. Even a decade ago 107 species of fish were available on these waterbodies. But in recent years many of the species are depleting while 46 are on the decline, the sources added. The Fishery Department has been implementing a programme since 2011 for protecting the local varieties of fish. Under the programme, farming and breeding of the species are being done while some NGOs are also involved with the job. NGOs like NCRS, Idea and Prochestha ran the survey with the assistance of Fishery Department. It revealed that 46 out of 107 varieties of fish are on decline in the haors in Sylhet region. These include, Tatkini, Gharua, Baghair, Rita, Rani, Bamash, Chitol and Chaka. Besides, Bacha, Chela, Banshpata, Kuvche, Napte Koi, Batashia, Foli, Guji Air and Tengra are on decline fast. Gulsha, Gojar, Ghonia, Darkina, Air, Pabda, Tarabain, Titputi, Nama Chanda and Kalibaush etc are almost non existent by now. About 0.15 million tonnes of fish are produced from the 0.47 million hectares of haor, beel and other waterbodies in the division although it was higher a decade ago.
District Fishery Officer of Sylhet Sankar Chandra Pal said fish production in the haors had been on decline for reasons although some of them are available on the rivers and bounded waterbodies. Besides, some other species like Chapila, Baligara, Gutum, bhera, Khaki, Upol, Chelapata and Laria are also on decline.
The sweetwater fish species are on decline from the water bodies including haors and canals in Sylhet division. About 46 species are on the list as the waterbodies have also been reduced due to construction of unplanned embankments and roads, filling up of ponds, excessive use of insecticides and pesticides alongside indiscriminate fishing, official sources said referring a recent survey in the region. Waterbodies like Tanguar Haor, Hakaluki Haor, Dekhar Haor and Shonir Haor, the prime sources of fish in the greater Sylhet region for ages, according to sources of Sylhet Divisional Fishery Office. A major portion of the country’s fish demand is managed from these sources. Even a decade ago 107 species of fish were available on these waterbodies. But in recent years many of the species are depleting while 46 are on the decline, the sources added. The Fishery Department has been implementing a programme since 2011 for protecting the local varieties of fish. Under the programme, farming and breeding of the species are being done while some NGOs are also involved with the job. NGOs like NCRS, Idea and Prochestha ran the survey with the assistance of Fishery Department. It revealed that 46 out of 107 varieties of fish are on decline in the haors in Sylhet region. These include, Tatkini, Gharua, Baghair, Rita, Rani, Bamash, Chitol and Chaka. Besides, Bacha, Chela, Banshpata, Kuvche, Napte Koi, Batashia, Foli, Guji Air and Tengra are on decline fast. Gulsha, Gojar, Ghonia, Darkina, Air, Pabda, Tarabain, Titputi, Nama Chanda and Kalibaush etc are almost non existent by now. About 0.15 million tonnes of fish are produced from the 0.47 million hectares of haor, beel and other waterbodies in the division although it was higher a decade ago.
District Fishery Officer of Sylhet Sankar Chandra Pal said fish production in the haors had been on decline for reasons although some of them are available on the rivers and bounded waterbodies. Besides, some other species like Chapila, Baligara, Gutum, bhera, Khaki, Upol, Chelapata and Laria are also on decline.
