Fish biodiversity and livelihood of fishermen at an Oxbow lake of South-West Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted to know the biodiversity status and assess the existing livelihood conditions of the fishers of Habullah Baor at Bagherpara upazila, Jashore district from November 2017 to April 2018. Sixty fishermen were randomly selected for collecting data through a semi structured questionnaire. The current study discovered that there were 11 different fish species from six orders and seven families in the Habullah baor. All of the sampled fishermen were Hindu. About 25% of the fishermen was young aged, majority was middle aged and 25% was old aged group. A total of 75% of the fishermen had nuclear family and 25% families lived in joint family. Among the fishermen 85% had a few decimal of cultivable land and 15% were truly landless. Annual income of the respondents varied from 30,000 to 70,000 BDT with an average of 42,833 BDT. All fishers had access to drinking water from tube wells. Most of the fishers lived in katcha houses. About 15% of the fishers enjoyed electricity facilities in their home. Among the fishermen investigated, majority had earthen latrine, 20% used tin shed latrine, 8% used concrete latrine and a few of them 10% had no latrine. There were no modern medical facilities in the villages. The respondents had no alternate income sources during the dry season and at the time of ban period. The fishers as a whole are leading measurable life due to great financial hardship. Proper conservation and management measures can be taken to enhance the availability of fish fauna in Habullah baor, so that, the fishermen can harvest ample fish on sustainable basis. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2022, 8 (3), 165-180

Cut off from River, but rich in biodiversity: fish biodiversity and livelihood of fishermen in Jhapa baor, Jashore, Bangladesh

“…It is apparent that, finding out the current biodiversity state of the open water fisheries is necessary for the conservation of the fisheries resources (Abu Al-Asif et al, 2021a;Kalimuthu et al, 2022). There has been very little or no study discovered in Bangladesh, and further research is needed to conserve these fisheries resources (Islam et al, 2017c;Jamil et al, 2022). Numerous studies have been conducted globally to evaluate the variety of fishes (Aziz et al, 2021;Hossain et al, 2012;Lévêque et al, 2008;Toussaint et al, 2016).…”

“…Baors were one of the significant fishing sectors in Bangladesh's inland water resources (Hasan et al, 2021;Shamsuzzaman et al, 2017). The oxbow lakes in the south-west of Bangladesh are the most effective example of culture-based fisheries that have been accomplished there (Abdul Halim et al, 2018;Al Mamun and Brook, 2015;Jamil et al, 2022). The Ganges delta's sluggish Oxbow Lake is a semi-closed body of water that is occupied by river channels that have dried up (Jamil et al, 2022).…”

“…The oxbow lakes in the south-west of Bangladesh are the most effective example of culture-based fisheries that have been accomplished there (Abdul Halim et al, 2018;Al Mamun and Brook, 2015;Jamil et al, 2022). The Ganges delta's sluggish Oxbow Lake is a semi-closed body of water that is occupied by river channels that have dried up (Jamil et al, 2022). Baors have a significant role in the production of inland fish as well as the life of fishermen (Ahamed et al, 2019;Jamil et al, 2022;Sharif et al, 2016).…”

“…The Ganges delta's sluggish Oxbow Lake is a semi-closed body of water that is occupied by river channels that have dried up (Jamil et al, 2022). Baors have a significant role in the production of inland fish as well as the life of fishermen (Ahamed et al, 2019;Jamil et al, 2022;Sharif et al, 2016). Baor fisheries resources either entirely or partially supported the livelihood of baor fishers (Islam et al, 2018;Jamil et al, 2022).…”

“…Baors have a significant role in the production of inland fish as well as the life of fishermen (Ahamed et al, 2019;Jamil et al, 2022;Sharif et al, 2016). Baor fisheries resources either entirely or partially supported the livelihood of baor fishers (Islam et al, 2018;Jamil et al, 2022). An accurate assessment of the current situation, the chances and hazards of future changes, and the potential for reducing adverse effects on the quality of human existence are all dependent on regional socioeconomic analysis (Bodrud-Doza et al, 2020;Mondal et al, 2018b;Rahaman et al, 2020;Rashed et al, 2017;Salam et al, 2020;Uddin et al, 2022).…”