A survey was conducted in Mohanpur Upazila, Rajshahi to determine the pond fishery resources and the livelihood status of fish farmers for a period of nine months (August 2005-April 2006). The survey was conducted on 90 fish farmers of 52 villages under 6 unions. Data were collected through personal visit and interviews following a detailed questionnaire. Pond sizes of the area varied from 15 to above 180 decimal of which maximum ponds (57.8%) were operated by single owner. Field observation revealed that 65.5% ponds were used for fish culture, whereas 28.5% and 6% ponds were culturable and derelict, respectively. Among the fish farmers 23.3% was illiterate whereas 14.4, 8.9 and 6.7% were educated upto primary, secondary and higher secondary or above level, respectively. Agriculture (51.1%) is the principal occupation of the pond owners followed by aquaculture (18.9%). The highest percentage (33%) fish farmers earned Tk. 25,000-50,000 per year, 32% earned Tk. 50,000-1,00,000 an the rest 25% earned above Tk. 1,25,000 annually. Fish farmers were found to face various problems such as social, economical and technical problems, which were identified during the study. Necessary overcome efforts are also suggested according to the problems. Key words: Pond fishery resources, fish farmers, livelihood status Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol.25 2006 p.31-35

No Abstract doi:10.3329/ujzru.v27i0.1965 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 27, 2008 pp. 99-100

The spawn of Indian major carps makes the Halda River an irreplaceable heritage of Bangladesh. The study was conducted to observe present status of Indian major carp breeding and collection management procedures of carp spawn and fry from the Halda River along with marketing process and economic conditions of the fishers and spawn collector. Data were collected through direct interview. In marketing system of carp eggs, spawn and fry in the Halda River, a number of intermediaries were involved actively in the marketing system. Four different types of marketing systems were identified in Halda spawn and fry distribution fry seller to final consumer. Fertilized eggs and spawn were collected and hatched by the local fisher's and collectors using their indigenous method. Those egg collectors sold to the hatchery owners per kg spawn at the rate of 50,000-80,000 BdTk. Again hatchery owners sold each and every fry at the rate of 5.0-6.0 BDTk. to the local fish farmers. Yearly survey information on Halda River's egg, spawn and fry collection showed an ups and downs production rate during last 07 years. The production status in the

Diurnal vertical migration of four genera of cladocerans, namely Diaphanosoma sp., Daphnia sp., Moina sp. and Bosmina sp., during March to December, 2007 showed that the number of Diaphanosoma sp. was 501 units/1 in the surface layers, 172 units/l in the middle layers and 190 units/l in the bottom layers. The yearly number of Daphnia sp. in surface, middle and bottom layerss was 362 units/l, 46 units/l and 189 units/l respectively. In surface, bottom and middle layers, the number of Moina sp. was 159, 71 and 32 uiiits/l, respectively. Bosmina sp. was 78 units/l in surface, 31 units/l in the middle and 33 units/l in the bottom layers. The number of Diaphanosoma sp., Daphnia sp., Moina sp., Bosmina sp., were 455, 149, 259 and 358 units/l, respectively in the morning, 63, 176, 142, 43 units/l at noon and 107, 55, 28, 59 units/l, respectively in the evening. Throughout the study period the cladocerans were always abundant near the surface during morning and evening. Among the factors responsible for the diurnal movement of cadoceran, light played the most important factor. The relationship between the physico-chemical factors and the cladoceran occurrence in the pond was also explored.

An attempt was made to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the growth of Heteropneustes fossilis for a period of six months reared in earthen ponds at Rajshahi University Campus. H. fossilis fingerling were stocked at the rate of 320, 280, 240/dec in treatment T1, T2 and T3, respectively, The treatments had significant effects on the weight gain, length gain, ADG, SGR parameters among the treatments. Highest weight gain (45.90g) was observed in T3 and lowest (36.97g) in T1. Significant (P<0.05) highest yield was obtained in case of T2 and T3 and it was 2686.80 kg/ha and 2343 kg/ha, respectively. Higher net benefits (5,18519.91TK/ha) were obtained from treatment T2, than from treatments T1 and T3, water temperature, transparency, pH and dissolved oxygen did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatments depicting the suitable range for fish culture. The plankton levels in all the treatments were found to be at optimum state. Final length, final weight and survival of fingerlings followed the same trends of weight gain. Cost benefit ratio was also highest (1:0.93) in T2, followed by T3 and T1. Overall, highest growth, fish yield survival (95.67%) rate and net benefits of fingerlings were obtained at a density of 280/dec (69, 160 individuals/ha) in treatment T2 were recorded.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(4), 253-262, 2017