Loss and damage have become a vital contemporary issue in climate change studies and actions in developing countries. However, studies are scant on this in the fisheries sector around the world. In Bangladesh, there is no study on the loss and damage in fisheries dependent communities. This study assesses economic and non-economic loss and damage to coastal shrimp farms due to cyclone Bulbul in Gabura Union of Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira district, using a mixed method approach. Results show that all shrimp farms' dependent communities are affected by cyclone Bulbul to some extent. About 14%, 57%, and 29% of the farms were totally, heavily and moderately damaged due to farm inundation and dyke damage. The estimated mean loss and damage per shrimp farm was worth USD 4,633. Around 31% and 72% of the farms' fencing nets and traps were lost, which was worth USD 333 per farm. There were also loss and damage to other resources such as houses, solar panels, livestock and agricultural crops where the estimated mean loss and damage per household was worth USD 3,170. This study reported that the rich shrimp farmers encountered proportionately more economic loss and damage than their poor counterparts. However, this does not mean that the poor suffered less. The current study found a range of non-economic loss and damage in different aspects of the shrimp farmers' household members such as unbearable mental pain, deterioration of health, physical injuries, disabilities, etc. and access to services (e.g., inadequate food, lack of safe drinking water, lack of medical facilities, disruption of education systems), social infrastructure (e.g., damage of roads and markets) and disturbance of cultural functions. The findings suggest that urgent short-and long-term actions may be taken to save the aquaculture farms and dependent livelihoods from economic and non-economic loss and damage to cyclones in future.

Plankton population of shrimp and shrimp-GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) culture ponds were studied.  The present study was carried out to estimate phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance and diversity in mono and polyculture systems. A total of 13 phytoplankton genera of cyanophyceae, chlorophyceae, bacillariophyceae, euglenophyceae, rhodophyceae and dinophyceae were recorded from the monoculture ponds while 12 phytoplankton genera were measured from shrimp-tilapia mixed culture ponds. Six genera of zooplankton under copepod, rotifer, cladocera, ostracoda were identified in monoculture system and 7 genera were found from polyculture ponds. The numbers of phytoplankton and zooplankton species were recorded to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in monoculture, compared to the polyculture system. In both culture systems, cyanophyceae of phytoplankton and copepod of zooplankton were the dominant groups.

Substantial quantity of sh has been imported to Bangladesh without adequate food safety assessment which can pose a serious health risk to local people. This study analyzed the trace metals and organochlorine pesticides residues and the associated human health risk in 33 imported shes (9 species) from four countries (India, Myanmar, Oman and United Arab Emirates) collected from three different ports (Benapole, Bhomra, and Chittagong) of Bangladesh with invoice lists from the port authorities. Trace metal concentrations were determined using graphite furnace absorption spectrometry and ame absorption spectrometry. The two organochlorine pesticides (Aldrin and Chlordane) residues were determined by GC-MS and found as below detection level (BDL). The trace metal concentrations (mg/kg-ww

Substantial quantity of fish has been imported to Bangladesh without adequate food safety assessment which can pose a serious health risk to local people. This study analyzed the trace metals and organochlorine pesticides residues and the associated human health risk in 33 imported fishes (9 species) from four countries (India, Myanmar, Oman and United Arab Emirates) collected from three different ports (Benapole, Bhomra, and Chittagong) of Bangladesh with invoice lists from the port authorities. Trace metal concentrations were determined using graphite furnace absorption spectrometry and flame absorption spectrometry. The two organochlorine pesticides (Aldrin and Chlordane) residues were determined by GC-MS and found as below detection level (BDL). The trace metal concentrations (mg/kg-ww) in imported fish samples ranged as: As: 0.008 to 0.558; Pb: 0.004 to 0.070; Cr: 0.010 to 0.109; Cd: 0.00 to 0.083; Ni: 0.011 to 0.059; Co: BDL to 0.067; Mn: BDL to 0.0780; Fe: 1.780 to 10.77; Cu: 0.055 to 0.632; and Zn: 0.898 to 9.245. Concentrations of As and Cd were higher than the food safety guideline. Considering the source country of imported fishes, fish samples from Oman were mostly contaminated by the trace metals. The estimated daily intake (EDI) was higher for As and Cr. However, the target hazard quotient (THQ) for individual metal and total THQ for combined metals were lower than 1, indicating no apparent non-carcinogenic health risk for consumers. But target cancer risk (TR) was higher for As, and Ni and the values exceeded the acceptable range indicating a high carcinogenic risk for the local people. Therefore, extensive monitoring of these toxic chemicals is needed prior to import these fishes to the country. Given the self-sufficiency in fish production this study also argues whether Bangladesh needs to import the fishes at all.

No abstract