Analysis of Pond Fisheries in Climate Change Scenario in the Haor Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Aims: To identify the potential environmental impacts and influence of climate change on the pond fishery in haor region and impact of exotic species on the indigenous species through aquaculture.
 Study Design: An investigation on the influence of the pond fishery approach to determine whether the approach is successful with respect to the climate change impacts in the haor area.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study sites are located in five haor districts in Bangladesh for a period of one-year (May 2018 – April 2019) covering HILIP working area.
 Methodology: The study includes collection and analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative study, 92 sample households in 58 unions of 28 upazilas (sub-districts) in five project districts were randomly selected. Fish catch data, including information on species composition, production and sale were collected from perennial and seasonal ponds. The qualitative primary data obtained through in-depth interviews, key informants interviews and focus group discussions have been used in this paper.
 Results: Fish production was found to be better at perennial ponds, but not significantly more than that in the seasonal ponds. However, biodiversity was found to be better in seasonal ponds and greater than that in the perennial ponds. The findings clearly support the observation that pond fish culture is an attractive activity for haor people, especially those who are able to run both perennial and seasonal ponds and manage minimum feeding requirements, maintain those and market the outputs effectively. The present study fills gaps in existing knowledge of fish pond culture diffusion in haor region of Bangladesh.
 Conclusions: Pond fishery appears to perform better so, aquaculture production would mitigate some lost capture fisheries in the haor area of Bangladesh. Existing cultural practices could support experimentation and learning under future initiatives in the haor area. Pond fishery in the haor area mainly has an income-generating feature and less probability of being affected by climate change impacts. However, future initiatives should emphasize on culturing fish, which has the potential of balancing the haor ecosystem.
 Aims: To identify the potential environmental impacts and influence of climate change on the pond fishery in haor region and impact of exotic species on the indigenous species through aquaculture.
 Study Design: An investigation on the influence of the pond fishery approach to determine whether the approach is successful with respect to the climate change impacts in the haor area.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study sites are located in five haor districts in Bangladesh for a period of one-year (May 2018 – April 2019) covering HILIP working area.
 Methodology: The study includes collection and analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative study, 92 sample households in 58 unions of 28 upazilas (sub-districts) in five project districts were randomly selected. Fish catch data, including information on species composition, production and sale were collected from perennial and seasonal ponds. The qualitative primary data obtained through in-depth interviews, key informants interviews and focus group discussions have been used in this paper.
 Results: Fish production was found to be better at perennial ponds, but not significantly more than that in the seasonal ponds. However, biodiversity was found to be better in seasonal ponds and greater than that in the perennial ponds. The findings clearly support the observation that pond fish culture is an attractive activity for haor people, especially those who are able to run both perennial and seasonal ponds and manage minimum feeding requirements, maintain those and market the outputs effectively. The present study fills gaps in existing knowledge of fish pond culture diffusion in haor region of Bangladesh.
 Conclusions: Pond fishery appears to perform better so, aquaculture production would mitigate some lost capture fisheries in the haor area of Bangladesh. Existing cultural practices could support experimentation and learning under future initiatives in the haor area. Pond fishery in the haor area mainly has an income-generating feature and less probability of being affected by climate change impacts. However, future initiatives should emphasize on culturing fish, which has the potential of balancing the haor ecosystem.

Temporal distribution of plankton and fish species at Mithamoin Haor: Abundance, composition, biomass and ecosystem based management approach

“…Haor's land-water transition makes it one of the most dynamic ecosystems. In northeastern Bangladesh, there are approximately 19.37 million people living in the Haor wetland environment with an area of 1.99 million hectares [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] ]. A total of 373 Haor/wetlands spreads throughout Sunamgonj, Sylhet, Habigonj, Maulavibazar, Netrokona, Kishoregonj, and Brahmanbaria districts.…”

Diversity and Seasonal Variation of Fish Assemblages of Dingapota Haor an Eutrophic Wetland of Northeastern Bangladesh

“…There are about 373 haors, or roughly 43% of the entire area of the haor region, spread across the districts of Netrokona,Kishoreganj,Sunamganj, Habiganj, Sylhet, Maulvibazar and Brahmanbaria, (Ahmed, 2013;Islam et al, 2010;Master Plan of Haor Areas, 2012).They encompass an area of about 858,000 ha. Numerous freshwater fin fish species as well as several prawn species, including 143 indigenous and 12 exotic species, are found in these haors (Mustafa et al, 2019;Islam et al, 2012;MoW, 2005;Muzaffar, 2004).…”