Fisheries in Sundarbans: Problems and Prospects
6 Pages Posted: 14 Jun 2012
Date Written: December 24, 2003
Abstract
Sundarbans, the largest delta on the planet earth is famous for its marine and estuarine fish resources. A large population is dependent on fishery activity and capture fisheries is treated as the backbone of Sundarban economy. Sundarban boast around 172 species of fishes, 20 species of prawn and 44 species of crabs including two edible crabs. But fisheries in Sundarbans faces some difficult problems which have an impact on the biodiversity, sustainability and livelihood of fish resources and fisher folk viz. shrinking tiger prawn population, indiscriminate fish seed collection, lack of post harvest and other infrastructures, natural calamities such as cyclonic storms and low pressure in Bay of Bengal and seizure of fish trawlers by Bangladesh navy. Despite these problems, Sundarbans’ fisheries have good prospects of developing as both marine and inland fisheries resources are available in abundance. Setting up of new integrated fish harbours complete with cold storage facilities, packaging centers and modern fish markets at six places in the area and creation of International fish processing zone at Kolkata will give a good boost to the fisheries of Sundarbans.
Keywords: sundarbans, fisheries, sustainability, livelihood
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