C T Online Desk: The fisheries sector in the country is facing an alarming downturn due to unpredictable weather conditions, specifically a lack of sufficient rainfall during the peak season for fish farming.
Experts are concerned that the significantly lower levels of rainfall are creating a crisis for both farmed and open-water fish production.
Dr Anisur Rahman, a renowned fish scientist and researcher, told the Daily Sun that water and temperature are crucial factors for fish growth both inland and in culture.
While hatcheries can control these factors through technology, it’s nearly impossible to do so in open water sources.
“Extreme heat waves and less rainfall during the monsoon season have had an adverse effect on fish farming in the country,” said Dr Rahman, adding that breeding of open-water fish has been most affected.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the country experienced 44 per cent lower rainfall in May, 16 per cent in June, and a staggering 51 per cent less rainfall in July—three crucial months of the monsoon season.
This decline in precipitation has put tremendous stress on local fish farmers, many of whom rely on seasonal rains to fill ponds, ditches, and other natural water bodies before releasing fish fry.
Due to the reduced rainfall this year, most of these water bodies have run dry, leading to delays in fish farming activities.
The world has entered an El Niño phase, whose effects are also felt in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.
This phase is characterised by heat waves and lower levels of rainfall, further aggravating the situation for fish farmers.
Fish farmers who usually depend on rain-fed water bodies have had to delay the release of fish fry until August, expecting their fish to hit the market three months later than usual, said Anisur Rahman, CEO of Shushma Feed Ltd.
- Mahbubul Haque, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, told the Daily Sun that the country is grappling with a severe drought that has hampered fish production.
“Fish production in the Haor region may also be affected this year due to extreme weather conditions,” he noted, although he added that cultured fish producers might partially counter the crisis through late breeding and technology.
Abu Sayed of Molla Agro, a fish farming enterprise in Jalalabad village of Kalaroa in Satkhira, further illustrated the crisis, stating that the scarcity of rain and increased heat have led to fish not receiving sufficient food, while the increased density of water has further impaired fish production.
“If the density of water increases, fish don’t take food; they float on the upper part of the water. Because of this, they’re not achieving the desired weight in the designated time,” he said.
This necessitates raising the fish for an additional one or two months, driving up production costs. Sayed also highlighted that the electricity bill for water pumps has increased manifold this year.
Mohammad Sahidul Islam, a fish supplier and farmer from Chougacha in Jashore, noted that the natural growth of cultured fish was adversely impacted this year due to the lack of rainfall.
“Though we use water pumps for fish farming, rainwater stimulates quicker fish growth with less feed,” he said. With significant rainfall arriving only in August, and winter setting in after October when fish growth remains stable, farmers find themselves in a difficult situation.
Sujit Kumar, a fish farmer from Kumarkhali in Kushtia, also expressed his concerns. He manages five ponds, three of which have water pumps, while the other two rely solely on rainfall.
“The electricity bill for water pumps has skyrocketed this year due to the drought,” he said. Kumar usually releases fish fry into his rain-fed ponds during Ashar (June-July), but this year, his ponds remained empty for three months.
“I can only release the fish fry after August, meaning they will be market-ready three to four months late,” he explained.
It is worth noting that approximately 40 per cent of the country’s total fish production comes from natural sources like water bodies, canals, and rivers, while the remaining 60 per cent comes from farming.
The advent of climate change is causing disruptions in both sectors, leading to a supply shortage in the market and driving up prices.
According to data from the Department of Fisheries, fish production was 47,58,731 tonnes in the 2022 fiscal year, showing a marginal increase from 46,21,228 tonnes in the previous fiscal year.
