‘Water resource conservation must for boosting fish production’

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BSS, Rajshahi :
Speakers at a community discussion underscored the need for enhancing fish farming through the best use of existing natural resources as enhanced fish production can be the effective means to meet protein deficiency and poverty alleviation along employment generation.
Referring to the immense prospect of the fisheries sector they said fish production could easily be increased to a great extent through the best use of existing natural resources.
Conservation of the water resources and other wetlands has become indispensable for the sake of boosting fish production to meet up the national protein demands.
They made these observations while releasing fish fingerlings in Beel Kumari Beel under Tanore Upazila of the district yesterday. Rajshahi District Police and Community Policing Cell jointly organized the event in association with Bangladesh Police Service Association and Department of Fisheries with the main thrust of boosting fish production in open water bodies.
On the occasion, 300 kg of native fish species like rui, katla and mrigel were released.
DIG of Police of Rajshahi Range Iqbal Bahar attended and addressed the ceremony as chief guest with SP of Rajshahi Nishaul Arif in the chair. Additional SP (Administration) Abul Kalam Azad, Additional SP (Special Branch) Jahangir Hossain, Assistant SP (Headquarter Circle) Abdur Rashid, UNO Muniruzzaman Bhuiyan, Officer-in-Charge of Tanore Police Station Anwar Hossain and Upazila Fisheries Officer Shariful Islam also spoke.
The speakers put emphasis on formulation of 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 for 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.
Besides, advocated for inspiring the farmers, providing them with latest scientific technologies and educating them in producing quality fish fries and fingerlings so that they cultivate fish more.
DIG Iqbal Bahar stated that the reduced water flow in the internal rivers basin has resulted in a severe depletion of fisheries. He put emphasis on fish habitat restoration, establishment of fish sanctuaries, fish pass, stock enhancement in floodplain and creating social awareness for proper rehabilitation of the fisheries sector.
He called for involving more people in the fish farming activities for the sake of meeting the protein demands as only the fish fulfill at least 60 percent need of the animal protein especially of the poor and marginal communities.
He, however, attributed that the fish production has been enhanced significantly through adoption of modern technologies in fish culture.
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