Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research a Comparative
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Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2017, 3 (3), 357-367; doi: 10.3329/ajmbr.v3i3.34526 Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research ISSN 2411-4472 (Print) 2412-5571 (Online) www.ebupress.com/journal/ajmbr Article A comparative study on fish biodiversity with conservation measures of the Bhairabriver, Jessore, Bangladesh Md. Ashraful Islam1, Abdulla-Al-Asif1,2*, Md. Abdus Samad1,3, Baadruzzoha Sarker2, Meraz Ahmed2, Abdus Satter4 and Amir Hossain5 1Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Jessore, Bangladesh 2Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh 3Department of Socio-cultural Environmental Studies, Division of Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, Japan 4Department of Aquaculture, Sheikh Fajilatunnesa Mujib Fisheries College (Bangamata Sheikh Fajilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University), Jamalpur, Bangladesh 5Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh *Corresponding author: Abdulla-Al-Asif, Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh. Phone: +8801716838294; E-mail: [email protected] Received: 07 September 2017/Accepted: 26 September 2017/ Published: 28 September 2017 Abstract: The present study was concerned to assess the present status of biodiversity in the Bhairab river, Jessore with its conservation measures. The study was based on primary observations, questionnaire interviews with 50 fishers, focus group discussions with river bank community members and cross-check interviews with key informants. The study was conducted for a period four months from May to August, 2016. The objective of the study was to assess the fish biodiversity in the Bhairab river, understand the existing fishing practices of the river and to identify proper management strategies for the conservation of fish biodiversity. Results of the study revealed that three kinds of fishers were engaged in the Bhairab river namely, professional fishers; seasonal fishers and subsistence fishers. Seven types of fishing gears like seine net, gill net, cast net, push net, lift net, trap and hook and line were operated to fish by the fishers during the survey. A total of 39 species of fish were identified in the catches of the Bhairab River. There are degraded ecosystems and declining biodiversity have found during the study. According to survey, fishing pressure and over fishing were responsible for almost 38% loss and pollution and siltation caused about 27% loss of ecosystem. Around 21% and 14% loss of ecosystem were caused by urbanization and human encroachment, and the recreational activities respectively. These have been created a great impact on river ecology. As a result, the water quality is deteriorating day by day and the availability of fish species and other aquatic biodiversity is decreasing gradually. During the survey, 20 species was found at a risk of being endangered. From the survey, it was found that the overexploitation of fish was responsible for the 40% losses of biodiversity in the Bhairab River and water pollution caused 35% loss of biodiversity. Henceforth, river course change and habitat degradation resulted in 15% and 10% loss of biodiversity of the river respectively. This study was identified possible ways to achieve a rich fish biodiversity in the Bhairab River with social, economic and environmental aspects. The specific recommendations are included community based fisheries management, establishment of sanctuary, control of pollution, maintenance of fishing gears and the implementation of fish act for conservation of fish biodiversity of the Bhairab River. Keywords: fish biodiversity; conservation; critically endangered species; endangered species; vulnerable; Bhairab river Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2017, 3 (3) 358 1. Introduction Bangladesh is endowed with vast water resources and it is the one of the most precious natural resources. About 800 rivers including tributaries flow through the country constituting a waterway of total length around 24,140 km (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012).There are about 4.02 million ha open water in this country which contributes a lot to fisheries sector (DoF, 2012). According to the World Bank (1991), Bangladesh has the various water resources including rivers, floodplains, ponds, beels, haors and a long coastline, diverse aquatic wealth and climate suitable for high yields and considerable increase in fish production. Fisheries make crucial contributions to the world’s well-being and prosperity. In the last five decades, world fish food supply has outpaced global population growth, and today fish constitutes an important source of nutritious food and animal protein for much of the world’s population (FAO, 2012). Fish and fisheries are the indispensable part of life and livelihood of the people of Bangladesh too since immemorial time. It is an element of the country’s cultural heritage (DoF, 2012). Total global capture production in inland waters has increased dramatically since the mid- 2000s. Total production amounted to 11.2 milliontons in 2010, an increase of 30% since 2004 (FAO, 2012).Bangladesh is one of the world's leading inland fisheries producer with an annual production of fish was 1.05 million metric tons which constituted 34.45% of total catch in 2011 (DoF, 2012). Riverine capture fisheries in the form of common property and open access resources constitute a vital component of the agro-ecosystem of rural Bangladesh (Blaikie and Sadeque, 2000). The Bhairabriveris also playing an important role in the total fish production of the country. The Bhairabriverbegins from the Jalangi, river takes off few miles to the northern karimpur. Then it turns to the east to meherpur and its pass through Jessore town. The Bhairab River is about 160 kilometers long and wide about 71 meters. It’s average depth is1.2 to 1.5 meters with a normal water flow and plenty of silt (Fluharty, 2000). According to DoF (2012), about 289 freshwater fish species under 13 order and 61families are found in these rivers. The biodiversity of the Bhairab river are quite well and a important rivers of Bangladesh. The massive siltation has threatened the existence of this important river and it is gradually being turned in to a canal .The Bhairab River has two main branches the khulnaIchmati and the kapotakkho. The Khulna Ichamati forms a boundary between Bangladesh and India. The town of Khulna and Jessore are situated in the bank of the river. The Bhairab River has its blessings for the Bangladesh providing fishing, communication and irrigation facilities but is now drying up. The fishers who have been living beside the river are facing difficulties and hardship due to lack of fish in the river. The term ‘biodiversity’ introduced in the mid-1980s for the total richness and variety of life on earth. The biodiversity of the Bhairab River is so diverse and community lives around this river depend mainly on this river for their livelihood (Hossain and Ahmed, 2008). The livelihood of a large number of people beside the river depends mainly on fishing in the Bhairab River. According to IUCN (2000), about 54 freshwater species are critically or somewhat endangered in the country. Among them 14 species are listed as critically endangered; 27 as endangered and 14 as vulnerable. Overfishing, rapid extraction of fish seed and broodstock, destructive and unregulated fishing practices, pollution, introduction of exotic species, loss of aquatic habitat due to siltation, dam construction, and other anthropogenic activities have been the major causes of fish species loss. Human activities are causing species to disappear at an alarming rate. Aquatic species are at a higher risk of extinction than mammals and birds. Losses of this magnitude impact the entire ecosystem, depriving valuable resources used to provide food, medicines, and industrial materials to human beings. Runoff from agricultural and urban areas, the invasion of exotic species, and the creation of dams and water diversion have been identified as the greatest challenges to freshwater environments (Allan and Flecker, 1993). Biodiversity and its conservation are regarded as one of the major issues of enabling sustainable use of natural resources and are essential for the Bhairab River. Conserving diversity also improves the likelihood of maintaining minimal viable populations of rare and late-successional species. Maintaining biodiversity is important because it is not always possible to identify which individual species are critical to aquatic ecosystems sustainability. The findings of the study will, in particular, be applicable to the management of the Bhairab River in Jessore. Moreover, the findings are expected to be useful to students, researchers and policy makers. This study may helpful to stakeholders who are interested in conducting the similar study in other parts of the country, particularly the conservation of fish biodiversity. The overall goal of this study is to conserve fish biodiversity of Bhairab River. The main objectives of the present study were to assess the availability of fish biodiversity in Bhairab River; to understand the existing fishing practices of the Bhairab River and to identify proper management strategies for the conservation of fish biodiversity. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2017, 3 (3) 359 2.