Evaluation of Fisheries Management Techniques in Three Wetlands in Bangladesh

Aim: To evaluate the impact of community-based co-management and fisheries management techniques on fisheries production and biodiversity in three large wetlands in Bangladesh.

Study Design: A robust catch assessment approach to measure fisheries production, species composition and biodiversity in large wetlands.

Place and Duration of Study: The study sites are located in three wetlands in Bangladesh, namely Hail Haor, Kangsha-Malijhee and Turag-Bangshi for a period of two years (2010 and 2011) covering MACH and IPAC working area.

Methodology: Species wise catch and efforts by gear type was monitored through the regular sampling to estimate the annual total catch and fishing effort. Randomly selected samples of the catch by species and effort by gear are recorded for each gear type observed to be operated on the same day. The numbers and weight of all fish species in the catch were recorded. The study also compared results in the last years of MACH initiatives to observe the status of fisheries production (kg/ha) and biodiversity Index (H´).

Results: The study indicated that the 2011 annual fish production (kg/ha) increased by 125 and 271% compared to the baseline survey in 1999 in Hail Haor and Kangsho-Malijhee respectively. The results suggested that Hail Haor and Kangsha-Malijhee wetlands showed considerably enriched biodiversity over 12 years, whilst, Turag-Bangshi showed upwards from 1999 to 2006 and decreased in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, fish production was 393, 322 and 139 kg/ha, and in 2011 fishes production was 370, 556 and 88 kg/ha in Hail Haor, Kangsho-Malijhee and Turagh-Bangshi wetlands, respectively.

Conclusions: The assessment indicated that the overall fish production and biodiversity has been improved due to community-based co-management and this lesson could be replicated widely to sustain wetland resources.