ASSESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITY BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT APPROACHES THROUGH BEEL USER GROUP AT SUNAMGANJ HAOR AREA SYED AHAMMAD ALI OCTOBER 2012 INSTITUTE OF WATER AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Assessing the Sustainability of Community Based Fisheries Management Approaches Through Beel User Group at Sunamganj Haor Area Syed Ahammad Ali In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Development October 2012 INSTITUTE OF WATER AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY ii CERTIFICATION The thesis titled “Assessing the Sustainability of Community Based Fisheries Management Approaches through Beel User Group at Sunamganj Haor Area” submitted by Syed Ahammad Ali, Roll No: M10062816P, Session : October 2006, has been accepted as satisfactory in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Development on 22 October 2012. BOARD OF EXAMINERS ………………….………….. Chairman Dr. Sujit Kumar Bala (Supervisor) Professor IWFM, BUET. ………………….………….. Member Dr. Md. Munsur Rahman (Ex-Officio) Professor & Director IWFM, BUET. ………………………….. Member Dr. A.K.M. Saiful Islam Associate Professor IWFM, BUET. …………………...………….. Member Dr. Munir Ahmed (External) Executive Director, TARA 1 Purbachal Road, North-South Baddah, Dhaka-1212. iii CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION It is hereby declared that this thesis or any part of it has not been submitted elsewhere for the award of any degree or diploma. Signature of the Candidate (Syed Ahammad Ali) iv This thesis is dedicated to my beloved mother Syeda Hasina Amjad v TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page No List of Tables x List of Figures xii List of Abbreviations xiv Acknowledgement xvi Abstract xvii 1. Introduction 01 1.1 Background 01 1.2 Objectives of the Study 02 1.3 Limitations of the Study 02 1.4 Organization of the Thesis 03 2. Description of the Study Area : Sunamganj District 04 2.1 Location of the Study Area 04 2.2 Climate of the Study Area 04 2.3 Water Resources 07 2.3.1 Rivers and Khals of the Study Area 07 2.3.2 Water Supply and Sanitation 07 2.3.3 Flooding 07 2.4 Hydrology of the Syudy Area 08 2.4.1 Pre-Monsoon 08 2.4.2 Wet Season 09 2.4.3 Post-Monsoon / Flood Recession 09 2.4.4 Dry Season 10 2.5 Fisheries Resources 10 2.5.1 Open Water Fisheries 10 2.5.2 Close Water Fisheries 10 2.6 Forestry Resources 10 2.7 Demographic Characteristics of the Study Area 11 2.7.1 Area and Population of the Study Area 11 2.7.2 Socio-Economic Condition of the Study Area 12 2.7.3 Literacy and Education Status of the Study Area 12 2.7.4 Indigenous People and Archaeological Sites in the Study Area 13 3. Literature Review 14 3.1 National Policy, Plan and Strategy deal with Fisheries 14 3.1.1 National Fisheries Policy (1998) 15 3.1.2 National Water Policy (1999) 16 3.1.3 Inland Capture Fisheries Strategy (2006) 16 vi 3.1.4 Government Water Bodies (Jalmahal) Management Policy (2009) 17 3.1.5 Sixth Five Year Plan (2011) 18 3.1.6 Haor Master Plan (2012) 19 3.2 General Principles of Community Based Fisheries Management 20 3.3.1 Empowerment 20 3.3.2 Equity 20 3.3.3 Ecosystem-based Management 20 3.3.4 Respect for Local Knowledge 20 3.3.5 Inclusiveness 21 3.3 Climate Change Impact on Fisheries 21 3.4 Fisheries Resources and Its Management Strategy 22 3.5 Third Fisheries Project (1991-96) 23 3.6 Second Aquaculture Project (1989-96) 23 3.7 Fourth Fisheries Project (1998-2005) 24 3.8 MACH Project (1998-2003) 24 3.9 Sunamganj Community Based Resource Management Project (2003-`14) 24 3.9.1 Project Background 24 3.9.2 Developing New Approach 25 3.9.3 Major Components of the Project 26 3.9.4 Beel Development 26 3.9.5 Roles and Responsibilities of Beel User Groups 26 3.9.6 Fishing Rules and Responsibilities 28 3.9.7 Involvement of Local Government 28 3.9.8 Review of SCBRMP Livelihood Impact Monitoring Report 29 3.9.9 Review of SCBRMP Bio-diversity Monitoring Report 29 3.9.10Review of SCBRMP Annual Report 30 4. Methodology of the Study 32 4.1 Introduction 32 4.2 Conceptualization 32 4.3 Selection of the Study Area 32 4.3.1 Boiragimara Beel at Sunamganj Sadar 33 4.3.2 Chatol Udaytara Beel at South Sunamganj 34 4.4 Data Collection 35 4.4.1 Secondary Data Collection 35 4.4.2 Primary Data Collection 35 4.5 Sustainable Livelihood Approach 38 4.6 Driving forces Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) 39 4.6.1 Background of DPSIR 39 4.6.2 DPSIR Framework 40 4.6.3 Application of DPSIR 41 vii 5. Results and Discussions 42 5.1 Physical Sustainability of Beels 42 5.2 Hydraulic Connectivity of the Beels 42 5.3 Sanctuary Establishment 44 5.4 Impact of Sanctuary Establishment 47 5.5 Kua Establishment 48 5.6 Sustainable Beel Management 48 5.7 DPSIR Analysis 50 5.8 Driving forces 51 5.8.1 Labor Force 51 5.8.2 Conflict for Fishing Right’s 53 5.8.3 Vulnerability to Environment 54 5.8.4 Beel Management 56 5.8.5 Access to Market by the Poor 57 5.9 Pressure 59 5.9.1 Fishing Days Per Unit Area 59 5.9.2 Organizational Unity 60 5.9.3 Flooded Area Ratio 60 5.9.4 Species Richness 61 5.9.5 Road Density 62 5.10 State 63 5.10.1 Labor Return Distribution 63 5.10.2 Gender Equality 71 5.10.3 Impact on Biodiversity 71 5.10.4 Beel Yield 72 5.10.5 Marketing Efficiency 73 5.11 Impact on Livelihood 74 5.11.1 Human Capital 74 5.11.2 Social Capital 77 5.11.3 Natural Capital 81 5.11.4 Physical Capital 84 5.11.5 Financial Capital 87 5.12 Status Change of Livelihood State Using Pentagon 90 5.13 Response 92 5.13.1 BUG Federation Development 92 5.13.2 Involvement of Local Government Institutions 92 5.13.3 Habitat Restoration 93 5.13.4 Permanent Sanctuary Establishment 94 5.13.5 Post Project Activities 94 5.13.6 Fish Transporting and Marketing 95 viii 6. Conclusions and Recommendations 96 6.1 Conclusions 96 6.2 Recommendations 97 References 98 Appendix-A : Questionnaire Form (Sample) 102 Appendix-B : Photograph taken during field visit 109 ix LIST OF TABLES Title Page No Table 2.1 : Climate Data of Sunamganj District 04 Table 2.2 : Mean Monthly Rainfall and Temperature of Sunamganj District 06 Table 2.3 : Demographic Characteristics of Sunamganj District 12 Table 3.1 : National Policy, Plan and Strategy deal with Fisheries 14 Table 3.2 : Phase-wise Beel Access Plan 30 Table 4.1 : DPSIR Analysis for Bangladesh Inland Fisheries 41 Table 5.1 : Establishment of Fish Sanctuaries in Study Beels 46 Table 5.2 : Catch Per Unit Area 47 Table 5.3 : Existing Size of the Kua of the Study Beels 48 Table 5.4 : Comparative Findings of the Study Beels 49 Table 5.5 : Consequence of DPSIR 51 Table 5.6 : Poverty Level in the Study Area 52 Table 5.7 : Shocks, Trends and Seasonality faced by BUGs 55 Table 5.8 : Swamp Tree Plantation Status of the Study Beels 57 Table 5.9 : Days Per Unit Area 59 Table 5.10 : Organizational Unity of BUG 60 Table 5.11 : Flooded Area Ratio 61 Table 5.12 : Number of Species found in Sample Beels. 62 Table 5.13 : Road Density of the Study Upazilas 63 Table 5.14 : Value Chain Analysis for Boiragimara Beel 67 Table 5.15 : Value Chain Analysis for Chatol Udaitara Beel 69 Table 5.16 : Women Involvement in Beel User Group 71 Table 5.17 : Biodiversity Index 72 Table 5.18 : Catch Per Unit Area for Study Beels 73 Table 5.19 : Marketing Efficiency 73 Table 5.20 : Level of Education in Sample BUG 75 Table 5.21 : Level of Satisfaction about SCBRMP Training 76 Table 5.22 : Level of Sufficiency about SCBRMP Awareness Campaign 77 Table 5.23 : Organizational Involvement of Sample BUG 78 Table 5.24 : Women Mobility of Sample BUG 79 x Table 5.25 : Rationality of Shearing Responsibility 80 Table 5.26 : Average Land Uses by BUG per family in Decimals 81 Table 5.27 : Increasing Land Prices due to Project Implementation 82 Table 5.28 : Importance of Access to Alternative Resources 83 Table 5.29 : Sanitation Status for the BUG 85 Table 5.30 : Percentage of Wall Materials of Sample BUG 86 Table 5.31 : Importance of Road Communication to Improve Livelihood 87 Table 5.32 : Average BUG Member Yearly Income (Tk.) 88 Table 5.33 : Assist SCBRMP Project to Access Financial Loan 89 Table 5.34 : Access of Women to Economic Activities 90 Table 5.35 : Livelihood Polygon for Boiragimara Beel 91 Table 5.36 : Livelihood Polygon for Chatol Udaitara Beel 91 Table 5.37 : Volume of Re-excavation of the Study Beels 93 xi LIST OF FIGURES Title Page No Figure 2.1 : Location of all Upazilas of Sunamganj District 05 Figure 2.2 : Mean Monthly Rainfall of Sunamganj 06 Figure 3.1 : Hierarchy of AC, BMC and BUG 27 Figure 3.2 : Existing Local Government Structure of Bangladesh 28 Figure 4.1 : Location of Boiragimara Beel 33 Figure 4.2 : Location of Chatol Udaytara Beel 34 Figure 4.3 : Sustainable Livelihood Framework 39 Figure 4.4 : DPSIR Framework 40 Figure 5.1 : Hydraulic Connectivity of Boiragimara Beel 43 Figure 5.2 : Hydraulic Connectivity of Chatol Udaytara Beel 44 Figure 5.3 : Comparison of Existing and Standard Fish Sanctuary Size 46 Figure 5.4 : Catch Per Unit Area 47 Figure 5.5 : Comparison of Existing and Standard Kua Size of the Beels 48 Figure 5.6 : Projection of Yield for the Study Beels 50 Figure 5.7 : Fishing Days Per Unit Area 59 Figure 5.8 : Number of Members in BUG 60 Figure 5.9 : Flooded Area Ratio 61 Figure 5.10 : Number of Species Found in Study Beels 62 Figure 5.11 : Value Chain Analysis for Fish Marketing Systems 64 Figure 5.12 : Marketing Margin, Marketing Cost and Marketing Profit for 67 Boiragimara Beel Figure 5.13 : Marketing Margin, Marketing Cost and Marketing Profit for 70 Chatol Udaitara Beel Figure 5.14 : Biodiversity Index 72 Figure