Aquacu nd ltu a r e s e J i o r u e Sarker et al., Fish Aquac J 2016, 7:2 r h n s a i l F Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal DOI: 10.4172/2150-3508.1000168 ISSN: 2150-3508 ResearchResearch Artilce Article Open Access Livelihood Status of Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishermen of Greater Noakhali Regions of Bangladesh Jahangir Sarker Md*, Borhan Uddin AMM, Shamsul Alam Patwary Md, Mehedi Hasan Tanmay, Farhana Rahman and Moshiur Rahman* Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh Abstract The present study aimed to elucidate the livelihood status of Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) fishermen at Lakshmipur and Noahkali Districts in Bangladesh during August, 2014 to January, 2015 through questionnaire survey method. During Hilsa fishing, Pangas (Pangasius pangasius), Koral (Lates calcarifer) and Poa (Johnius coitor) were also found to capture as by catch using Chandi jal (set gill net). 85% fishermen were observed to use mechanized (5-40 HP; Horse Power) boats in the study areas. Hilsa fishing was noticed mostly during October-November while such activities was almost absent during February-May (off period) which made fishermen to start migrating temporarily to the nearest urban areas for their livelihood. Although the Government of Bangladesh formulates an act to have fishing license yet 20% of the fishermen were found having valid fishing license in the study areas. Average daily net income of the fishermen during fishing period was 600 BDT whereas their real field daily income through fishing supposed to be 1695 BDT if they are supported by nets, boats, fuels etc., which means almost 64% of their daily income is taken by the aratdars. Therefore, subsidy as a means of nets, boats, fuels, engines etc., might be recommended for the better livelihood of the fishermen in greater Noakhali region. Keywords: Hilsa; Tenualosa ilisha; Livelihood; Lakshmipur; of Lakshmipur district and Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali district Noakhali; Bangladesh are selected as two of the ideal Hilsa fish capture areas for the present research study. Introduction Most of the Hilsa fishers live below the poverty line, and most work Fisheries sector plays an immensely important role on the socio- in teams as labourers/fishers. The wealthier fishers own the boats and economic development of Bangladesh from time immemorial as nets. During fishing season, the fishers are dependent on fishing for it is the part of the cultural heritage of the country. Fisheries sector their livelihood and do not have any alternative sources of income to contributes about 3.00% of the total export earning, 4.37% to GDP and support their families. Being an isolated community, fishermen are 23.37% to agricultural sector [1]. Annual fish production was 34,10,254 deprived of many amenities of life mostly in off season. Considering MT in 2012-2013 fiscal year and the production of Hilsa fish is 3.51 the above fact, the present study was carried out to assess the livelihood MT which contributes 11% to the total fish production and 1% to the status of the Hilsa fishermen and the impacts of off season on the socio- national GDP of the country. economic condition of Hilsa fishermen in Lakshmipur and Noakhali Fish is one of the principal dietary ingredients to the people of region of Bangladesh. Bangladesh providing about 60% of their animal protein intake. Hilsa contributes a major part to this. There is a proverb in Bengali is “Macher Materials and Methods raja Ilish” meaning “Hilsa is the king of fish.” It is the national fish of Investigation was carried out in Ramgoti upazila of Lakshmipur Bangladesh because of its importance. The Hilsa fishery of the country district and Subarnachar Upazila of Noakhali district for six months is characterized by the usual common property conditions where the from August, 2014 to January, 2015. available resources are exploited by a large number of fishermen. The study was based on the collection of primary and secondary data. The Indian River shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Hamilton, 1822), Total 400 fishermen were involved in Hilsa fishing (250 in Laksmipur locally known as ‘Ilish’ constitutes the largest single species fishery of Bangladesh [2]. There are three Hilsa species found in the Bay of Bengal, Tenualosa ilisha, Hilsa kelee, and Hilsa toli. The majority of Hilsa fish captured belongs to Tenualosa ilisha. Though the Hilsa is generally *Corresponding author: Jahangir Sarker Md, Department of Fisheries and regarded as an anadromous fish, there is evidence that it is in fact a Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh, Tel: +880-321-71487; Fax: +880-321-62788; diadromous fish, which means it migrates both ways between ocean E-mail: [email protected] and river. This anadromous fish is mainly found from the Meghna River estuary region through Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Chandpur Moshiur Rahman, B.Sc. Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, E-mail: district to the upper Padma River. [email protected] Received November 28, 2015; Accepted April 18, 2016; Published April 28, 2016 Lakshmipur is one of the southern coastal districts and Noakhali is situated in the central coastal zone of Bangladesh along the northeastern Citation: Sarker J Md, Uddin AMMB, Patwary SA Md, Tanmay MH, Rahman F, coast of Bay of Bengal. Both of the districts has the presence of large et al. (2016) Livelihood Status of Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishermen of Greater Noakhali Regions of Bangladesh. Fish Aquac J 7: 168. doi:10.4172/2150- number of ponds, canals, floodplains and also the vicinity of the area 3508.1000168 to Meghna River estuary ensures the significance of the district in total culture and capture fish of the country. These two districts contribute Copyright: © 2016 Sarker J Md, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits greatly to the national annual production of Hilsa providing a large unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the number of captured Hilsa to the country. That’s why Ramgoti upazila original author and source are credited. Fish Aquac J, an open access journal ISSN: 2150-3508 Volume 7 • Issue 2 • 1000168 Citation: Sarker J Md, Uddin AMMB, Patwary SA Md, Tanmay MH, Rahman F, et al. (2016) Livelihood Status of Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishermen of Greater Noakhali Regions of Bangladesh. Fish Aquac J 7: 168. doi:10.4172/2150-3508.1000168 Page 2 of 6 district and 150 in Noakhali district). Therefore, primary data (10% Upazila under Chandpur district which is slightly similar to the present of the total population) for this study were collected from randomly findings [6]. According to the fishermen sampled to the present study it selected 40 (forty) Hilsa fishermen (25 fishermen from Ramgoti upazila is found that fishermen want to change the trends about illiteracy. They of Lakshmipur district and 15 fishermen from Subarnachar upazila of want to be educated so that they would not like to be cheated by the Noakhali district) comprising of younger, middle aged and elderly others due to lack of their education. Hilsa fishermen were consistently experienced fishers. Pre-evaluated and post evaluated questionnaire being cheated by the aratdars and loan providers as they were forced were used for the data collection from fishermen in accordance with to sell their captured Hilsa to them. They revealed that majority of the the objective set for the study. fishermen were illiterate as most of the fishermen were involved in the fishing activity which was the only way to economically support their Primary data were collected through personal interview and Focus family in their early stage of life and also the lack of awareness about Group Discussion (FGD) and secondary data were collected through education. Another important factor was observed that there is a few Crosscheck Interviews (CI) with key informants, from project reports numbers of educational institutions in the areas of fishing community. and documents. Necessary relevant information on the socio-economic Most of the fishermen families are unable to bear the educational condition of fishermen was collected from regional offices. expenses of their school going children during banning period or lean After collection of data, these were edited and coded. All the season due to low or zero income. collected data were summarized and scrutinized carefully and recorded. Religious status: From the present study, it was found that Muslims All the collected information were accumulated and analyzed by MS- constituted 85% of the fishermen community with 15% Hindus (Table Excel and then presented in textual, tabular and graphical forms to 1). There was no Buddhists or Christians which was similar to Minar understand the present livelihood status of the fishermen in the studied [4]. The dominance of Muslims in the fishing community indicates area. that Muslims are gradually coming to fishing profession by breaking Results and Discussion the previous superstitions of the society. Pravakar found that about 75% and 25% of the pond fish farmers were Muslims and Hindus Human capital respectively in Shahrasti Upazila under Chandpur district [6]. Age distribution: Knowledge on the age structure of fishermen Physical capital is very important in estimating the productive potential of human resources. Different categories of age groups are 16-25 years, 26-35 Housing condition: The nature of house indicates the social status years, 36-45 years and 46-55 years were considered to examine the of the people. Ramgoti Upazila of Lakshmipur and Subarnachar Upazila age distribution. It was appeared that out of 40 fishermen age group of Noakhali were not developed as like as the main town of Lakshmipur of 26-35 years was the highest (57%) and 46-55 years was the lowest and Noakhali district respectively.