Chemicals endanger fish resources
Friday, 7 May 2010
Firoz Ahmad
Fish is the cheaper and main source of dietary protein for the over 150 million people of Bangladesh and fish will be depended on as a staple in the diet for all aspects of nutrition by an even bigger population in the future. But this source of vital nutrition is already under a threat which would likely turn worse in the near future from dwindling reproduction of various species of sweet water fishes.
Bangladesh in the past was home to four or five hundred species of fishes. The number has dwindled down to two hundred and fifty such species with the others becoming extinct . But even the supplies of the species which are still seen, appear to be shrinking. The main reason for the extinction as well as dwindling supplies, is the spread into water bodies chemical substances such as pesticides and insecticides used in agriculture. According to a media report, nearly eight to ten thousand tons of insecticides and pesticides are used in agricultural lands in the northern districts and nearly 50 per cent of the same pass into water bodies. No figure is available for similar passing of insecticides and pesticides into water bodies located in other parts of the country. But the same are unlikely to be less than in the northern districts.
The chemicals are poisonous for the fish and the environment. The situation calls for immediate stringent regulations to ensure safe use of pesticides and insecticides requiring the taking of steps so that the same can be prevented from passing into water bodies which are the natural breeding grounds of fishes. It would be far better if use of chemical pesticides and insecticides is banned. In many countries, farmers are practicing the safer natural ways of pest control without using insecticides and pesticides. The same should be encouraged in Bangladesh.
At least, the use of chemical insecticides and pesticides should be regulated severely for the time being. The laws and their enforcement should be strictly followed and enforced respectively in this regard along with publicities conducted to make people more caring and conscious in the use of these chemical agents.
Besides, the prevailing enforcement measures related to catching and punishing offenders for netting fish fries and for doing other things that pose hazards to the water bodies, will have to be stepped up with a greater zeal. All man made interferences in the way of free and healthful breeding of fishes in their natural habitats must be removed.
Fish is the cheaper and main source of dietary protein for the over 150 million people of Bangladesh and fish will be depended on as a staple in the diet for all aspects of nutrition by an even bigger population in the future. But this source of vital nutrition is already under a threat which would likely turn worse in the near future from dwindling reproduction of various species of sweet water fishes.
Bangladesh in the past was home to four or five hundred species of fishes. The number has dwindled down to two hundred and fifty such species with the others becoming extinct . But even the supplies of the species which are still seen, appear to be shrinking. The main reason for the extinction as well as dwindling supplies, is the spread into water bodies chemical substances such as pesticides and insecticides used in agriculture. According to a media report, nearly eight to ten thousand tons of insecticides and pesticides are used in agricultural lands in the northern districts and nearly 50 per cent of the same pass into water bodies. No figure is available for similar passing of insecticides and pesticides into water bodies located in other parts of the country. But the same are unlikely to be less than in the northern districts.
The chemicals are poisonous for the fish and the environment. The situation calls for immediate stringent regulations to ensure safe use of pesticides and insecticides requiring the taking of steps so that the same can be prevented from passing into water bodies which are the natural breeding grounds of fishes. It would be far better if use of chemical pesticides and insecticides is banned. In many countries, farmers are practicing the safer natural ways of pest control without using insecticides and pesticides. The same should be encouraged in Bangladesh.
At least, the use of chemical insecticides and pesticides should be regulated severely for the time being. The laws and their enforcement should be strictly followed and enforced respectively in this regard along with publicities conducted to make people more caring and conscious in the use of these chemical agents.
Besides, the prevailing enforcement measures related to catching and punishing offenders for netting fish fries and for doing other things that pose hazards to the water bodies, will have to be stepped up with a greater zeal. All man made interferences in the way of free and healthful breeding of fishes in their natural habitats must be removed.