In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, over 4.2 million tonnes of fish were produced with Hilsa production reaching 0.5 million tonnes. The fish sector arranges employment for 19 million people.
To the GDP, the fish sector contributes 3.57 per cent and to the agro sector, 25.30 percent.
A report of the ministry of fisheries says that in the last ten years, average growth in the fish sector has been 5.5 per cent.
To the national GDP, the contribution of Hilsa is more than 1 percent.
The total amount of water bodies for fish cultivation stands at over 3.9 million hectares with hatcheries adding another nearly 0.8 million hectares.
To extend fish cultivation, 432 sanctuaries have been established, 3,092 hectares of water bodies re-excavated with 309 hectares of water bodies developed in 2017-2018.
As a result, an additional three thousand metric tonnes of fish are now being produced every year.
In the last nine years, VGF support has been given to 248,000 fishermen to prevent them fishing during moratorium periods.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, legal fishing rights have been established over 118, 813 square km area of the Bay of Bengal.
Meanwhile, a survey started in 2016 identified 430 species of fish and with a moratorium of 65 days on fish catching from 20 may till 23 July, fish production is rising.
A marine reserve has been declared in 2000 and a survey has been completed in Nijhum Dwip in Hatia to declare MPA.
There are currently 104 fish processing plants in the country and in 2017-18, the government earned Tk 43.1 billion by exporting 935 metric tonnes of fish. The main exported items are shrimps, crabs, dry fish, shark fin and fish scales.
In 2015, at the recommendation of EU, the necessity to submit a test certificate for fish export from Bangladesh was withdrawn, which is a remarkable endorsement of our fish products.
State minister for fisheries and water resources, Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru told Bangla Tribune, “Fish is the national asset of Bangladesh with a significant contribution to GDP.”