Socioeconomic Aspects of Small-Scale Freshwater Prawn Marketing Systems in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Ahmed, Nesar; Ahammed, Faisal; Lecouffe, Catherine

doi:10.1080/13657300701530324

Cited by 30 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Most of the households of larvae fishers in the survey area relied on river water for bathing and washing, and women had to walk long distances (in some cases up to 3 km) to procure drinking water from tubewells. Apart from salinity, arsenic is also a common problem for drinking water in tube-wells in the study area (Ahmed 2001).…”

Section: Socioeconomic Status Of Larvae Fishersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditionally, prawn farmers prefer to stock wild larvae rather than hatchery-produced larvae because hatchery production has been limited and farmers consider wild larvae to be of superior quality (Angell 1992;Ahmed et al 2005). The survival of wild larvae has been reported to be much higher than that of hatchery-produced larvae (Ahmed 2001). There are currently 81 freshwater prawn hatcheries in Bangladesh, although only 38 (47%) are operational, producing about 100 million larvae annually (Winrock International 2007;Ahmed 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Larvae fishing contributes substantially to the local and regional economy and also is a part of foreign exchange earnings (i.e., almost all prawns are exported to international markets, particularly to the US, Europe, and Japan), although the larvae fishers benefit little. Larvae fishers are usually socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged and lack financial resources (Ahmed 2001); thus, they constitute the most marginalized people in coastal communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fishing for Prawn Larvae in Bangladesh: An Important Coastal Livelihood Causing Negative Effects on the Environment

Ahmed

Troell

2010

AMBIO

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Freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming in Bangladesh has, to a large extent, been dependent on the supply of wild larvae. Although there are 81 freshwater prawn hatcheries in the country, a lack of technical knowledge, inadequate skilled manpower, and an insufficient supply of wild broods have limited hatchery production. Many thousands of coastal poor people, including women, are engaged in fishing for wild prawn larvae along the coastline during a few months each year. On average, 40% of the total yearly income for these people comes from prawn larvae fishing activity. However, indiscriminate fishing of wild larvae, with high levels of bycatch of juvenile fish and crustaceans, may impact negatively on production and biodiversity in coastal ecosystems. This concern has provoked the imposition of restrictions on larvae collection. The ban has, however, not been firmly enforced because of the limited availability of hatchery-raised larvae, the lack of an alternative livelihood for people involved in larvae fishing, and weak enforcement power. This article discusses the environmental and social consequences of prawn larvae fishing and concludes that, by increasing awareness among fry fishers, improving fishing techniques (reducing bycatch mortality), and improving the survival of fry in the market chain, a temporal ban may be a prudent measure when considering the potential negative impacts of bycatch. However, it also suggests that more research is needed to find out about the impact of larvae fishing on nontarget organisms and on the populations of targeted species.

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Section: Socioeconomic Status Of Larvae Fishersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fishing for Prawn Larvae in Bangladesh: An Important Coastal Livelihood Causing Negative Effects on the Environment

Ahmed

Troell

2010

AMBIO

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“…After collection, snails are distributed to prawn farmers in the south-western regions through a line of middlemen. Although Ahmed (2001) described the value chain of snails from Chanda Beel of Gopalganj to Bagerhat district in 1999 and Nath et al (2008) within Khulna in 2006, the chain between Chanda Beel and Khulna district has, to date, remained unreported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Value-chain analysis of freshwater apple snail (Pila globosa) used for on-farm feeds in the freshwater prawn farming sector in Bangladesh

Nahid

Henriksson

Wahab

2014

Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech.

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Growth of the freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) sector in Bangladesh since 1970s has been supported by natural availability of freshwater apple snail (Pila globosa), used for on-farm prawn feeds. The present study identified the current configuration of the value-chain benefits and constraints of freshwater apple snail in south-western Bangladesh in August 2011, based upon Rapid Market Appraisal (RMA) approach. The site of snail collection was Chanda Beel in Gopalganj district, while trading, processing and final consumption was represented by Rayer Mahal Bazar in Khulna district. There were seven different nodes recognized throughout the value chain. Snail marketing was identified as a seasonal business and took place during June to November each year. Between 1995 and 2011 the price of whole snail, meat and shell has increased by 800%, 325% and 315%, respectively. The abundance of snail had been reduced and its demand has increased due to the expansion of the prawn farming industry. Prawn farmers preferred snail meat due to its' low cost (US$ 0.21 kg -1 ) as a source of protein compared to commercial prawn feed (US$ 0.41 kg -1 ). Snail harvesting and processing were considered as additional livelihood options for the poor, where 60% of the labour involved in snail harvesting were women, and 95% the de-shelling workforce. Induced breeding in captivity and sustainable management in nature as well as development of commercial production of apple snails might reduce the pressure on ecosystems and positively contributed to the continued expansion of freshwater prawn farming in Bangladesh.

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“…As a result, in many homes in Poompuhar, women control the household finances. However, studies suggest that if women are unable to contribute to the household income, they may lose some of their agency in making financial decisions (Ahmed 2001;Halim 2004). This means that the loss of agricultural work in Poompuhar could lead to domestic disputes or even financial difficulty.…”

Section: Figure 10 Scenes Of Gendered Labor In Poompuharmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnographic Investigations of Commercial Aquaculture as a Rural Development Technique in Tamil Nadu, India

Kiessling

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThere are many people that I would like to thank and acknowledge for supporting and guiding me through this extensive dissertation process. First, I would like to thank my major professor and the members of my dissertation committee for investing the long hours into mentoring me, reading my drafts, and providing such constructive feedback.Professor Laura Ogden served as my advisor and major professor for several years and made sure I navigated the program successfully. She spent long hours working with me on grant proposal submissions and was instrumental in helping me to develop my dissertation project. She stayed on as a committee member even after her transition to Dartmouth College and helped me secure essential funding that allowed me to remain a full-time student. After Professor Ogden moved to Dartmouth College, Professor Juliet Erazo jumped in as my major professor when duty called and made sure that I stayed on track in the midst of the transition between advisors. Professor Erazo patiently read and edited all the iterations of my dissertation, helping me to strengthen my arguments and organize my thoughts. Both professors are role models to me; they have shown me how to persevere in the face of adversity, to be professional while balancing a career and family life, and push myself to become a stronger critical thinker. I aspire to be as motivated, hardworking, and successful as they are. Professor Gail Hollander has also been an integral part of the dissertation committee, stepping in at the last moment and joining the committee even though she had many other obligations. She provided insightful feedback during my proposal defense and had excellent suggestions, inspiring me to think about how commercial aquaculture is an agricultural activity. Professor Roderick Neumann also provided constructive feedback throughout the dissertation iv project and helped to ensure that my project was the best that it could be. I also want to thank him for writing many letters of recommendation for me over the years. Professor Aquaculture currently constitutes nearly half of global seafood production today.Due to this importance, and the attention such practices receive through funding and extension, many scholars have focused on the social impacts that aquaculture practices have on rural communities. In particular, scholars have investigated the effects of aquaculture on environmental conditions, food security, livelihoods, gender relations, and social conflict. However, more scholarship is needed concerning the historical legacies that have contributed to how aquaculture is promoted and practiced, particularly viii connections to the Green Revolution. Furthermore, there needs to be more research about commercial aquaculture as a post-disaster development strategy.

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Socioeconomic Aspects of Small-Scale Freshwater Prawn Marketing Systems in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Cited by 30 publications

References 5 publications

Fishing for Prawn Larvae in Bangladesh: An Important Coastal Livelihood Causing Negative Effects on the Environment

Fishing for Prawn Larvae in Bangladesh: An Important Coastal Livelihood Causing Negative Effects on the Environment

Value-chain analysis of freshwater apple snail (Pila globosa) used for on-farm feeds in the freshwater prawn farming sector in Bangladesh

Ethnographic Investigations of Commercial Aquaculture as a Rural Development Technique in Tamil Nadu, India

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