BOGRA, July 30: Due to dishonest fishermen and frequent drying of water-based pond, canal, river and khari the indigenous species of fishes are on the way of declining from Bogra district.
Local people said around four big rivers, several hundred ponds and numerous water streams (locally known khari) are here in 12 upazilas.
To drive out insects, use of insecticide both in cropland and water streams may be considered as a cause of declining fishes from the district. Unabated use of fine nets for fishing in the water bodies, poor depth in river waters and filling up of their water bodies by illegal encroachers are also among the reasons behind the fall in production of the local fish.
Besides, farming and marketing of the high yielding species fishes have been enhanced significantly during the last couple of years. Though experts and others concerned put emphasis on adoption of time-fitting measures to protect those especially the small indigenous ones from further depletion, the people do not think the necessity of fishes in our every day lives.
Fisheries officer of Dupchanchia upazila Maksudur Rahman said, "The small fishes enriched with high nutrition which is capable of protecting the human beings particularly the growing aged ones from various diseases."
"With wide-ranging promotion of exotic and hybrid fish species, the indigenous species, particularly the small ones, are gradually being endangered everywhere in the district's northwest region."
Abdus Salam, a government service holder, said, "The local kitchen markets marked Fotteali bazar, Goderpara bazar, Razabazar, Khanderbazar and adjacent fish market are now flooded with the promoted varieties of fish which are less tasty and nutritious than the indigenous ones."
The slogan of this fisheries week is Sagor Nadi Shokol Jole Machh Chashe Sona Fole. District fisheries officer Raushon Ara Begum said, "Apart from this, all varieties of native fish are also on the decline in the region because of drastic fall in surface waters resources like rivers, canals, ponds, floodplains and water bodies.
The sharp fall in production of local fish varieties is also widely blamed on the indiscriminate catching of the mother fish." "Poor production of the indigenous fish species has made them scarce on the markets and thrown a good number of local fishermen out of their ancestral job." she added.
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