Exploring conservation-livelihood options for Hilsa fishermen

Co-authored by Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Professor Md. Abdul Wahab and Ambassador Liaquat Ali Chowdhury, the book titled 'Hilsa and Hilsa Fishermen: Exploring Conservation-LIvelihood Win-Wins' has analysed how a win-win scenario can be achieved in the conservation of Hilsa or 'Ilish' (in Bangla), an iconic and delicious fish of the Bengal delta that became a part and parcel of Bengalee cuisine since time immemorial and on which the livelihood of a large community of fishermen depend in Bangladesh.
The study was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as part of a Bangladesh-India joint study to facilitate cross-learning of best practices on protecting and conserving Hilsa by addressing the livelihood concerns on a priority basis.
The primary focus of this PPRC study was to assess the livelihood security efforts of Hilsa fishermen in Bangladesh within the context of Hilsa conservation and to identify practical options for strengthening such endeavours.
The scope of the study included reviewing existing schemes in Bangladesh that provided livelihood support for the fishing communities affected by periodic Hilsa fishing ban in designated sanctuaries.
Commonly known as 'Indian Shad', Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh that makes significant contributions to the economy and nutrition of the Bengalee population. Its economic contributions include employment generation, export earnings and as a source of animal protein.
The areas adjoining the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, West Bengal and Myanmar account for over three-fourths of annual Hilsa output in the world.
The fish migrates to the rivers Padma, Meghna and its tributaries from the Bay of Bengal for breeding purposes and then returns to the bay after the breeding
season.
Alongside its importance in bio-diversity of the Bengal delta, its economic significance is equally important. Hilsa accounts for 10 percent of total fish production in terms of value in Bangladesh and has been a notable export earner in recent times.
The value of Hilsa-catch stood at US$ 2 billion or Taka 16,000 crore during
2012-13.
It still holds enormous unrealized growth potentials in the country. Experts opine that annual Hilsa production could be doubled from the present output of 350 thousand metric tons.
Not only in terms of output, Hilsa fishing is equally important in livelihood generation as around 400 thousand fishermen belonging to the poorer segments of the rural population depend on it in Bangladesh.
These rural folks are traditional fishermen whose lives are deeply intertwined with marine and riverine fishing where Hilsa-catch plays a dominant part.
Three distinct Hilsa species are found in the Bay of Bengal. These are 'temalosa illisha', 'hilsa keleeand' and 'hilsa toil'; of these, the first one constitutes the main category of Hilsa in Bangladesh.
Hilsa was the most dominant fish in the Ganges river system prior to the commissioning of the Farakka barrage in the 1970s.
The catch of Hilsa then gradually declined, especially in the Padma and Meghna rivers as well as their tributaries. River siltation, obstruction of migratory routes, pollution, hydrological and climatic changes also contributed to this deterioration, which reached a crisis proportion by 2003.
Recognizing this predicament, the government and relevant stakeholders then pressed ahead with some correction measures that helped reverse the decrease in Hilsa output.
These included declaration of five sites in the rivers Padma and Meghna as Hilsa sanctuaries under the 'Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950'; and enforcement of temporary fishing bans in these sanctuaries during the peak seasons of Hilsa breeding.
The book under review highlights four key findings from the PPRC study. Firstly, commitment at all levels has been important in the observed success of Hilsa
onservation initiatives by Bangladesh Government.
Secondly, adoption of a holistic view of the challenges and a well-coordinated implementation strategy has been critical in the execution of National Hilsa Management Action Plan.
Appropriate administrative and legislative instruments, constitution of national and local level committees for coordinated implementation of conservation initia-
tives, declaration of Hilsa sanctuaries,
temporary ban on brood Hilsa and Jatka catching during breeding season have been vital components in the conservation efforts.
Thirdly, sustained awareness campaigns at various levels also played a crucial role in the success of the conservation initiative. And fourthly, the food assistance support for the affected fishermen during periods of temporary ban has proved to be highly
useful.
Calibrating the coverage and size of assistance through mid-course corrections has also been useful.
A set of recommendations has been presented in the concluding part of the book covering short, medium and long-term measures. The short-term recommendations are as follows: (a) accelerate fishermen registration by ensuring genuineness of the list through rigorous scrutiny and distribute identity cards as per the final list; (b) strengthen personnel and logistical capacity of the field offices of Fisheries Department as well as law enforcement agencies in sanctuary zones; (c) effective ban on the production and sale of specific types of nets used in Jatka fishing; (d) enforce ban on marine catches parallel to ban on riverine catches during breeding season; (e) introduce pre-packed 40 kg packets of rice for avoiding leakages and reducing distribution difficulties in the Vulnerable Group Feeding program; (f) undertake an in-depth review of current alternative income generating activities to ensure their relevance and to make them demand driven and effective; (g) improve the Hilsa Management Action Plan on a continuous basis by paying close attention to lessons emerging from the field.
The five medium-term recommendations made in the book are: (a) ensure 100% coverage of affected fishermen in rice assistance support and develop a clearer linkage with national social protection strategy; (b) review the grassroots demand for a cash-supplement to food assistance support in order to cover non-food expenses of affected fishermen during temporary bans; (c) encourage government and non-government programs that cater to the educational needs of fishermen's children; (d) promote fishermen-friendly financing mechanism for lessening the exploitative impact of non-formal credit; (e) continuously monitor spawning and migratory behaviour of Hilsa for strengthening the Hilsa conservation action plan.
The four long-term recommendations based on the study are: (a) create a Hilsa Conservation Fund after a thorough review of sustainable conservation; (b) a tax (e.g. 1% on Hilsa exports) may be levied for establishing the proposed conservation fund; (c) implement an elaborate plan for building a global brand image of Hilsa by targeting high-value market expansion; (d) ensure non-disruption of the migratory routes of Hilsa and other aquatic species resulting from eco-unfriendly physical interventions.
This highly relevant, timely and practical research output based on exhaustive literature review, institutional consultations, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews has succeeded in thoroughly exploring the conservation cum livelihood potentials for Hilsa and Hilsa fishermen in Bangladesh.
It will prove invaluable for policy makers in the government, academics and researchers at various educational and research institutions, the media as well as the larger fishing community for gaining a complete understanding of the subject.
The reviewer is a senior civil servant and former editor of Bangladesh Quarterly.
 [email protected]

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Hilsa and Hilsa Fishermen: Exploring Conservation-Livelihood Win-Wins
By Hossain Zillur Rahman,
Md. Abdul Wahab and
Liaquat Ali Chowdhury
Publisher: Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Dhaka, December 2014,
Book Design & Production: The Shikkha Bichitra, Malibag, Dhaka,
Pages: 90; Price: Taka 600