Once upon a time, there was no dearth of local fish but now, many of our own aquatic species are becoming rare catches. Around fifty kinds of sweet water fish, including, Koi, Magur, Pabda, Puti, Darka, Mola, Chela, Dhela and others are not found in the local markets.
Specialists highlight several reasons for the disappearance of local fish varieties and these include: climate change, natural disasters, illegal usage of current nets, application of excess insecticide, pollution of rivers, decline in river navigability, reckless catching of fries and, cultivation of predatory foreign fish.
Fish department sources say that more than 250 local varieties of fish are facing extinction.
Instead of sweet water fish, the local markets are occupied by farmed Pangash, Tilapia and carps.
Fish trader, Abul Kalam Azad, who hails from Borguna, told Bangla Tribune: “fifteen years ago, the only fish people bought in my village was Hilsa; for other kinds, they just went to the local river to get their preferred catch.”
Fish cultivator, Salauddin Mufti, says: “we have two ponds in our house and twenty years ago, everyone caught fish from the ponds; now only three varieties of fish can be found.”
Many blame the excess use of pesticide as the reason. Last year, in the haor areas of Habiganj, Moulavibazar, a large quantity of dead fish was seen floating on the water
Zilla fish officer said this was due to lack of oxygen, resulting from ammonia created from rotting paddy fields.
However, haor specialists dispute this, saying there may be another reason which needs to be identified.
Talking on the matter, DG of fisheries department, Md. Golzar Hossain, told Bangla Tribune: “relevant officials are looking into the matter.”
To safeguard local varieties of fish, a fair is arranged every year by the fisheries department and the initiative is now spread to the zila and upazilas.
Professor Moazzem Hossain of the fisheries faculty of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University, said: “many local varieties are lost due to natural disasters plus the lack of awareness among people.”
There has to be extensive research to safeguard local fish, he added.