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The Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) forms the second-largest single-species marine fishery in Bangladesh and therefore has a significant impact on the local economy, providing employment, food, and nutrition to thousands of people. Despite the immense importance, this fishery has never been a priority for the relevant regulatory authorities. To enhance the sustainability of this fishery, an effective management policy based on the scientific evaluation of the current stock’s status is urgently required. Therefore, this study used three methodological approaches (traditional size structure-based stock assessment to reveal current exploitation status; the length-based stock potential ratio (LB-SPR) to evaluate the stock’s spawning biomass; and Froese’s sustainability indicators for sustainable fishing) to conduct a thorough assessment of the Bombay duck stock to establish basic standards for the sustainable management of this fishery. The results revealed that this fishery is presently suffering from overexploitation and the stock’s spawning biomass (SPR = 8%) is below the limit reference point because of the juvenile-oriented fishing behavior of the fishery. Based on the outputs, this study recommended the mesh size regulation of the set bag nets (SBNs) (5 cm mesh size for the codend) to ensure not to catch immature fishes with a length equal to or smaller than 17.95 cm; and reduce the existing number of SBNs by half to reduce fishing pressure on the stock to ensure the sustainability of this fishery.

Social resilience is an essential aspect of sustainability in environmental management, especially in poor resource-dependent communities. To better understand the dynamics of social resilience, we have conducted a primarily qualitative study of communities dependent on hilsa fishing in two coastal villages in southern Bangladesh. This study applies concepts of social-ecological system (SES), social resilience and co-management in outlining our qualitative data and framing its interpretation. Our findings show that while the establishment of hilsa sanctuary areas has enhanced the previously low ecological sustainability of local small-scale fishing, the management of this program has challenged the social resilience of hilsa fishers by creating new inequalities in the distribution of power and privilege, in terms of the ways in which seasonal fishing bans are enforced and compensation for income loss during the ban periods is distributed. Based on our findings, we suggest specific measures for strengthening social resilience at the local level, including building community networks, developing community infrastructures, updating existing rules and regulations, providing alternative means of generating income for fishers during the crisis periods (e.g. natural disasters and fishing ban periods) and more active sharing of responsibility between stakeholders and government for management of the hilsa fishery. These findings are also applicable to understanding the issues beyond rules and regulations that co-management arrangements need to address in order to be successful and to enhancing the function of co-management arrangements in improving social resilience within resource-dependent communities.

The present study aimed to map out the current threats and anticipated impacts of climate change on the most important hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery and the associated fishing communities based on fieldwork in six coastal fishing communities. To collect empirical data, individual interviews, focus group discussions, oral history, and key informant interviews were conducted. To supplement the empirical findings, time-series data of cyclones and sea-borne depressions in the Bay of Bengal were also analyzed. Analysis of secondary data regarding climate change-induced events and regional studies suggested that the biophysical conditions of the Bay of Bengal are likely to be aggravated in the future, potentially causing more frequent extreme events and affecting the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh. The fisher respondents revealed that the main target hilsa shad fishery is particularly vulnerable to climate change in terms of alterations to migration patterns and breeding and growth performance. The fishers reported constant climate-related risks because they live in seafront locations, exposed to extreme events, and their occupation entails risky sea fishing. Fishers claimed that they often need return to the coast due to unsuitable weather conditions related to cyclones and frequent tropical depressions, which can cause financial losses or even causalities. Such events negatively affect fishers’ livelihoods, and wellbeing. To cope with the impacts of climate change the fishers have adopted various strategies at both sea fishing and household levels. However, these strategies only support the fishers in terms of immediate survival; they are not enough for long-term resilience. To improve the resilience of the hilsa fishers, the study argues for the implementation the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSF Guidelines), which call for longer-term development goals, including in the immediate relief phase, and rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery to reduce vulnerabilities to climate and anthropogenic risks.