Fish output rises 5 times in 30 yrs:Daily Star

Bangladesh is now the fourth major fish producing country in the world as it has raised production from 7.5 lakh metric tonnes to 35 lakh metric tonnes in last three decades. Steady growth in inland fish production from aquaculture helped Bangladesh achieve the feat, said a report of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to the study titled “The State of World Fisheries and Aquacultur
e 2014”, Bangladesh currently produces around 34.9 lakh MT of fish a year following China, India and Myanmar. Out of the total production, around 20 lakh MT comes from aquaculture. Fish meets 56 percent of the total animal protein consumption in Bangladesh, added the report. The annual per capita consumption of fish and fish products in Bangladesh is 11.9 kg which is around 11.1 percent of total protein consumption. The total annual consumption is highest in Chittagong area (17.2 kg per person), while the lowest in Rangpur area (7.5 kg per person). The species most commonly consumed are freshwater fish, including tilapia, catfish and carp, while hilsa is the most consumed marine species. Advertisement Meanwhile, a report of Department of Fisheries (DoF) said several government initiatives, including conservation of Jatka, setting up inland sanctuary, releasing fish fries in inland water bodies, setting up swamp nurseries and managing jalmahals, contributed to booming fish production in the country. Bangladesh currently has been producing fish worth Tk 50,000 crore a year, which provides livelihood to 11 percent people, according to DoF statistics. The production of fish and fisheries products has increased by over 25 percent in last five years. The government, said the report, has set up 715 swamp nurseries in last five years. If the trend continues, it would be possible to produce around 45.1 lakh MT fish in 2021.