Indigenous fish farming shrinking in Chuadanga

CHUADANGA, Jun 22: The indigenous species of fish of Chuadanga district, particularly the small ones, are disappearing fast due to drying up of the local water bodies alarmingly.

The district fisheries office sources said a total of 165020 hectares of land are being used for cultivation of fish in four upazilas of the district.

Most of the water bodies including rivers, ponds and canals in the district have dried up in recent years which caused an adverse impact on fish production.

Moreover, frequent and random use of serious harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides in farm land accelerated the situation, experts say.

A large number of fishermen in the district used to live on catching country fish in haor, baor and beel including Mathabhanga river. They are now facing hardship and leading their life sub-humanly as they are not having sufficient fish in the water bodies.

Many fishermen are now earning their livelihood by pulling vans or rickshaws.

Chuadanga district Fisheries officer Mr Bazlur Rashid said, "Native fishes are losing their breeding capacity owing to excessive use of insecticides and chemical fertilisers in the cropland. Moreover, fish eggs cannot sustain in contaminated water."