About Department of Fisheries

 Department of Fisheries

Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh (DoF) was first established in the undivided Bengal of the British India in 1908. In 1910 the DoF was abolished through merging with the Department of Agriculture. Again as per recommendation of Mr. T. South Well the DoF became an independent organization in 1917. The DoF was abolished again in 1923. After long gap following the recommendation of Dr. M. Ramswami Naidu the DoF was revived in May 1942. Since the inception of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) the DoF has had been running with mandates of maximising fish producation,Poverty alleviation through employment generation,etc. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 the Central Fisheries Department of the then Pakistan was merged with the DoF of Bangladesh in April 1975. Later on in 1984 Central Marine Fisheries Dept. was merged with the DoF as a Marine Fisheries wing.

Organogram/Structures

DoF is under the administrative cotrol of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. It is headed by a Director General, who is assisted by 3 Director and 2 Principal Scientific Officer (equivalent to Director). There are 1553 technical officers of different hierarchy and supporting staffs in the DoF under the revenue budget who accomplish the routine activities of the DoF. There are administrative set-ups at  division, district and Upazila levels headed by Deputy Director, District Fisheries Officer and Upazila Fisheries Officer respectively. Besides these, there are 3 fish inspection and quality control stations, Marine Fisheries Station, Fisheries Training Centres, Farms and Hatcheries.

Mandate

• To disseminate improved aquaculture technologies through training and demonstration and to extend extension advisory services to the focal stakeholders.
• To enhance fisheries resources through enacting conservation and management measures.
• Assist the administrative ministry to formulate policies, acts etc.
• To enforce quality control measures and issuance of health certificates for exportable fish and fish products.
• To conduct fisheries resources survey and assessment of stock to develop fisheries database for proper planning.
• To facilitate arrangement for institutional credit for fish and shrimp farmers, fishers and fish traders.
• To formulate and implement development projects towards sustainable utilization of fisheries resources to ensure food security.
• To facilitate alternative income generating activities for rural poor and unemployed people towards poverty alleviation.

Associate Organisation for fisheries Development

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)

BFRI is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. This institute had been established in 1984. Under this institute there are 5 stations located at Mymensingh, Chandpur, Rangamati, Cox's Bazar, Paikgacha (Khulna) and 3 substations at Santahar, Jessore & Barisal. These stations conduct basic and applied research on freshwater aquaculture, inland fisheries management, lake management, fish diseases, marine fisheries, brackish water aquaculture, fish breeding genetics etc. Some of the technologies evolved by this institute are being extended to the fields.

Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC)

BFDC is also an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock. This corporation had been established in 1964. BFDC is mainly involved in harvesting fisheries resources and developing marketing facilities in the country. For the development of marketing facilities this organization has established fish harbour, landing and distribution centres, ice plants and processing plants. In the past BFDC played a vital role to attract the private entrepreneurs in marine resource exploitation and marketing.

Contribution of Fisheries Sector

It contributes 4.07%  to GDP and 4.90% to foreign exchange earnings through export. Fish provides 60% of national animal protein consumption. Fisheries sector plays an important role in rural employment and poverty alleviation.

Categories of Resources

There are 4 categories of major fisheries resources, those are

(i) Inland open water
(ii) Inland closed water
(iii) Brackish water
(iv)Marine water

Inland Fisheries

Inland fisheries comprises of rivers, estuaries, beels, floodplains, polders, ponds, ox-bow lakes, brackish water etc. In early sixties inland fisheries contributed about 90% of total fish production of the country. Fish production from aquaculture has increased to a great extent but open water fish production is in slow progress. Now only about 41% of total fish production comes from inland open waters

. There are 260 fish and 24 prawn species in inland fresh water in the country.

Marine Fisheries

The Bay of Bengal is situated in the South of Bangladesh. There is a total of 166,000 sq. km. water area including Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Fishing is only confined within 100-meter depth. About 127 trawlers, 44,000 mechanized and non-mechanized boats are engaged in fishing. Pelagic and deep-sea resources are still untapped. In the year 2006-07 fish production was 24.40 lakh metric ton (MT) in which only 35,391 MT. was trawl catch.

Fish Production

Average annual growth rate of fish production is around 5%. Inland open water is the major source of fish production in the country. But production from closed water bodies is increasing very sharply due to dissemination of adaptive technologies and effective extension services rendered by DoF.

Last 5 years fish production is mentioned below (In Metric ton)

Major group-wise contribution in fish production (2006-07)

There are 260 fresh water, 475 marine fish species and 24 prawn, 36 shrimp species in the country. About 12 exotic species are being cultured in the country.

Contribution of deferent types of fish to total fish production:

National Fisheries Policy

A national fisheries policy has been adopted to make the aquaculture and fisheries management activities environment friendly and sustainable. The policy has been formulated aiming at the primary objective of increasing fish production through optimum utilization of the available resources. Employment generation and poverty alleviation have also been given importance in fisheries policy.

Development Activities

In addition to the normal activities of the DoF several development projects aiming at boosting up fish production and conservation of fisheries resources. In 2008-2009 a total of 13 investment projects and 3 technical assistance projects are being implemented.

Fisheries Legislation

For fisheries resource conservation, management and maintenance of quality of the fish and fish products the following major ordinances and rules are being enforced.

1. Tank Improvement Act, 1939
2. Fish Protection & Conservation Act,1950 (amended in 1995)
3. The protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985 (amended in 2008)

4. The fish & fish Products (Inspection & Quality Control) Ordinance, 1983.

5. The fish & fish Products (Inspection & Quality Control) Rule, 1997(amended in 2008)

6. The Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983
7. The Marine Fisheries Rules, 1983
8. Shrimp Culture Avikor Act, 1992

9. Shrimp Culture Avikor Rules, 1993

Aquaculture Practices

Freshwater aquaculture

Indian Major Carps and exotic carps are largely cultured in the country. Culture practices are mainly improved-extensive and semiintensive. Beside carp aquaculture monoculture of Tilapia, Rajpunti, Thai pangus are also practiced. Average fish production in the ponds is 2662 Kg/ha/year. Freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii) is also cultured along with carps all over the country.Mono-culture is mostly concentrate in the southern region of the country. Average yield is about 450 kg/ha/year.

Brackish water aquaculture

It is widespread in Satkhira, Khulna, Cox's Bazar and Bagerhat district. Tiger Shrimp P. monodon and giant prawn M. rosenberqii are the major species of shellfish cultured in those areas. M. rosenbergii is largely cultured in southwest region of the country. Culture practices of shrimp are improved extensive in nature. Annual yield is 399 kg/ha.

Fish Hatchery

Fish hatchery especially carp hatchery started to come up in late seventies. At present there are 860 private and 112 public fish hatcheries/Fish Seed Multiplication Farms in the country. The following species are bred in the hatcheries. These are – L. rohita, L.calbasu, C.cirrhosus, C.catla, H.molitrix, C. idellus, A.nobilis, M.testudunius, M.gulsha, O.pabda, Tor tor etc.

 
In the year 2007 a total of 463,532 kg of hatchling was produced from private & government. hatcheries. Presently collection of seeds from natural grounds has gradually reduced to about 2061 kg from 22,000 kg in 1987.

Shrimp Hatchery

In 2007 there were about 57 P. monodon (Bagda) hatchery and 70 M. rosenbergii (Galda) hatchery. In Bagda hatcheries about 51000 lakh of post larvae (PL) .were produced. Almost all Bagda hatcheries are located in Cox's Bazar region, but major culture grounds are situated in southwest region of Bangladesh. The produced PLs. are transported to southwest region by aircrafts.

Export of Fish & Fish Products

There were 133 fish processing plants in the country of which 75 plants are in operation. Annual production capacity of 75 plants is about 3,20,000 MT. Out of 75 plants European Commission has approved 65 plants. HACCP has already been introduced in fish processing establishments. Major importing countries are European countries, U.S.A and Japan. About 98% of total fish products are exported to those countries. Remaining is exported to the countries in Southeast Asia and Middle East.

Export of Fish & Fish Products (2002-2007)

(Value: Crore. Taka, Qnty: MT)

 Type of Products exported

 Major export items of fish products are raw shrimp block frozen, IQF shrimp and white fish, PUD & P&D shrimp block frozen, consumer pack of raw frozen shrimp, dry, salted & dehydrated fish and a little quantity of value added shrimp products.

 Fish Inspection & Quality Control

DoF has 3 Fish inspection and quality control stations located at Khulna, Chittagong and Dhaka facilitated with testing laboratories. DoF is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure the quality of the products as Competent Authority.

 Fish Cooperatives/ Societies/ Associations

There are few leading fisheries associations for the development of socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries, to resolve their relevant problems and to improve their professional skills. Some of those are,

1. National Fishermen Society
2. Small-scale Fishermen Society
3. National Shrimp Farmers Association
4. National Shrimp Hatchery Owners Association.

5. National Fish Culturist Association

Campaign for Boostig Fish Production and Resource Conservation

 Campaign for boosting fish production and resource conservation week/fort night has been observed usually in between July and September every year Creation of awareness, for the conservation of fisheries resources is also an objective of this campaign. It is a mational programme and is inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh/Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government.

FISHERIES RESOURCES INFORMATION ON BANGLADESH

(2006-2007)