Fisheries sector contributes to GDP, can earn more foreign exchange

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President Zillur Rahman Monday asked for taking effective measures to protect the country's traditional species of fish along with developing aquatic bio-diversity considering people's interest, as the fisheries sector contributes significantly to the GDP and has the potential for earning more foreign exchange, reports UNB.
"Not merely to fulfill the domestic demand, the fisheries export destinations will have to be extended to earn foreign currency," he said while releasing fish fry into the pond in the Bangabhaban compound marking the National Fisheries Week (2009).
Describing Bangladesh as a naturally versatile and rich country with lots of marine resources, the President said all the country's rivers, canals, ponds, tanks, haors-baors, sea and the natural wetlands of the country are fertile lands for fish cultivation. "A large quantity of fishes are produced in these wetlands from time immemorial," he said.
Zillur Rahman observed that production of fish has mostly decreased in the country due to population growth, shrinkage of open wetlands and various manmade and natural causes as well as the decrease in various species of indigenous tasty fishes. "Efforts will have to be made to protect our traditional species of fishes and develop watery bio-diversity for the interest of the people."
Bangladesh has floodplains of 2.8 million (28 lakh) hectares and the area increases during the rainy season. "At present some 500 organisations are involved in pisciculture and its marketing and management activities in about 450 floodplains," Zillur Rahman mentioned.
The President hoped that fish production and employments would increase in the country if the fishes are cultivated in all floodplains by using modern methods and technologies. The slogan of the fisheries week of this year 'Fish Cultivation in Floodplains-Good Wind of Change' is prefect,' he said.
Zillur Rahman noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared a programme for making Bangladesh self-sufficient in food by 2013 alongside fish production under the roadmap of vision-2021, and the government has already taken various steps in this regard for developing and protecting the fisheries.
"Side by side with the government activities, all-out cooperation of the country's people is needed for complete implementation of these steps," he remarked.
The President urged all concerned to gear up the 'social movement' already created across the country for further extension of fish cultivation.
Pointing out the economic aspect, Zillur Rahman said the fisheries sector has been playing an important role in creating jobs, earning foreign currencies and alleviating poverty in the country.
"I have come to know that the contribution of fish production to the country's GDP is some 3.74 per cent in the fiscal year 2008-2009," he told his audience, adding that 60 per cent of the country's animal protein as well as some 4.04 per cent of export earnings come from the fisheries sector.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas also spoke on the occasion while Rafiqul Islam, DG of the Fisheries Department, presented a report on Fish Cultivation in four ponds in the Bangabhaban area.