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Handheld Appreciation on Hindrances of Deep Sea Fishing in Bangladesh
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Factors
1.
Sea area of Bangladesh.
Deductions. After the sattlement of disputes, Bangladesh now has 1,18,813 sqr. km of sea
area, which is huge.
2.
Established Fishing Grounds.
Deductions.
a. Shortage of stock information, especially inadequate resources data
beyond 100m depth contour. No comprehensive survey on mid-water and pelagic fish
stock.
b. Dr. Fridjof Nansen, a Norwegian survey vessel were conducted some scattered
acoustics survey on pelagic resources in 1979; the result is insufficient for commercial
fishing operation in pelagic and mid-water ecosystem.
c. All survey of Bangladesh was conducted for only demersal resources estimation;
last one is done in between 1983 to 1987 by FAO (RV Anusandhani).
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d. Four fishing grounds were established from various survey conducted in between
1967 to 1973. FAO, in 1987 re-established earliar four major fishing grounds based on
the RV Anushandhani survey data. After 1987, no further comprehensive survey were
done to detect new fishing ground in the Bay of Bengal.
3.
e. Sizes of the fishing grounds are (1) Swatch of No Ground 3800 sq. km, (2) Middle
Ground 4600 sq. km, (3) South Patches 3400 sq. km and (4) South of South Patches
2800 sq. km.
Types of Trawler.
a. Industrial Trawler (Mid Water-Total 204, MF Association 2013-14).
b. Industrial Trawler (Shrimp-Total 35, MFA 2013-2014).
c. Artisanal (Mechanized and Non-Mechanized-Total 45,689 statistics DoF
(Department of Fisheries) 2012-2013).
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Deductions.
a. Shrimp Trawlers normaly carry out bottom trawling and bound to land 30% white fish
as per the provision of Marine Fisheries Rules of Bangladesh.
b. Mid Water Trawlers should carry out Mid Water and Surface Trawling but they often
carry out Bottom Trawling, which is destroying botom ecosystem and benthic
communities. This should be discouraged for sustainable fishing.
c. In case of artisanal fishing, all boats should be registered by the Government.
d. Government efforts are on to reduce Bottom Trawling (i.e. below 40 m.) rather
encourageing for deep sea fishing with Mid Water, Long Line and Pur seine fishing
method.
4.
Major Fishing Methods.
a.
Botom Trawling.
b.
Mid Water Trawling.
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c. Long Lining.
d. Pur seine.
e. Gill Netting.
Deductions. Bangladesh carries out bottom and mid water trawling only. Mechanized boat
normally does Gill Netting.
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5.
Fishes of the Bay of Bengal (490 Species).
a. Pelagic Fish (Tuna, Mackerels, Hilsa etc.).
b. Demersal Fish (Jew fish, Sea bass, Grunters etc.).
Deductions.
a. The scope and opportunity of Tuna resources in Bangladesh maritime domain is still
remain under dark due to shortage of stock information, since no survey has yet done
for exploring and exploiting tuna resources from distant waters.
b. Tuna and tuna like fishes (mackerels) are fast swimmer and trans-boundary
migratory stocks; to harvest them high skilled fishing personnel’s and technologies are
needed in fishing operation which are at present not available.
c. The existing larger fishing fleet is not adequately suitable for tuna fishing due to their
slow dead speed during fishing gear shooting time.
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6.
Bangladesh Government’s Survey Effort. The Govt. of Bangladesh procured a
multipurpose research vessel, the R V Meen Sandhani (Avi wf gxb mÜvbx) to
explore and exploit marine resources sustainably through financial support from
Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The vessel hopefully will come under operation in
current year (2015). The vessel is equipped with modern research and survey facilities
to foster appropriate resource mapping in the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh waters.
Deductions.
a. Task and functions set for the FRV is very ambitious. Operating vessel with single
engine in surveying EEZ of Bangladesh is likely to face risk during monsoon. It is to be
noted that Bay of Bengal remains very rough for major portion of the year. Length and
the Gross Tonnage are to less to be operated effectively for the survey and research
purpose in the EEZ of Bangladesh. The FRV will be able sustain up to sea state 5 but
again with only one engine risk will exist during EEZ survey of Bangladesh. In
Bangladesh, this FRV will be able to perform better during winter (i.e. November to
February).
b. Sea condition of the Bay of Bengal and the size of the EEZ should have been
catered while making the Tender Specification of FRV.
7.
Modern Fishing Methods.
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Deductions.
a. Satellite remote sensing is commonly used in marine and oceanographic research
as a tool to get quick estimations of chlorophyll, a proxy for phytoplankton abundance.
b. Big Eye tuna is higher in regions of SST (Sea Surface Temperature) in 26 0 C-280 C,
surface Chlorophyll a concentration around 0.2 mg/m 3, surface current speed above
0.15 m/s, or higher sea surface height (SSH). Because all the marine environmental
parameters may change quickly with time or in space, satellite remote sensing data can
provide the near real time observation for timely predictions of tuna fishing ground in the
vast ocean.
c. IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) is a corporate body of member state which
provides information onward migratory tuna schools through charging designated fees.
IOTC got ocean colour data from various satellites moving around the globe and
interoperated the data into tuna schools, their location and suggested most suitable
time and location for harvest tuna.
8.
Summary of Deductions.
a. Bangladesh has now huge sea area which is almost un-surveyed. Deep sea fishing
will be a futile effort without proper survey of the area.
b. Existing fishing fleet is depleting MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield) of all species
by harvesting under sized fish stocks.
c. Existing fishing technologies are very old and need to update through HRD&M.
d. Survey findings by RV Meen Sandhani shall dictate the future of deep sea fishing
operation by demarcation of fishing operation for pelagic, mid-water, gill-netting, longlining and Mari-culture zone.
9.
Recommendations.
a. Inclusion of chlorophyll sensors in proposed Bangabondhu Satellite will help to
assess major pelagic resources in Bangladesh marine waters including Tuna and
Hilsha.
b. Comprehensive survey in deeper water of Bangladesh is essential before starting
the deep sea fishing especially for tuna like fishes (Area bounded 19030’ to 210 North
and 890 to 920 East). But it is very expensive and also time consuming too.
c. Membership of Bangladesh in IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) will reduce
the survey cost and save time. Exploration and exploitation of tuna resources by
Bangladeshi fishing trawlers is possible by obtaining fish school information from IOTC
(if membership been authorized officially), which will be rather cost effective.
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