Finance Adviser for coordinated effort to protect indigenous fishes
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam Monday stressed the need for coordinated effort to protect indigenous fish to meet the nutrition demand of the country's increasing population, reports UNB
"It's quite essential to take coordinated effort to protect indigenous fish," he said while inaugurating a `Fish Fair' in the city as the chief guest.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim was the special guest at the function, chaired by Fisheries and Livestock secretary Syed Ataur Rahman.
The objective of the weeklong `fish fair' at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises is to encourage increase of fish production in the country.
Many government and non-government organizations are taking part in the fair, organized by the Directorate of Fisheries and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The fair will continue till July 29.
The Finance Adviser said fish resources have been playing a very important role in the economy of Bangladesh. "The contribution of fisheries in GDP is more than five percent… it's one of the most potential sectors in the country."
He said the Fisheries department could play an important role in poverty alleviation as some 1.2 million people directly and another 10.2 million indirectly are engaged in the sector.
Aziz said although some 90 per cent of country's fish demand could be met from the water bodies in 1960, of late a mere 36 per cent demand is fulfilled from these areas. He mentioned that indigenous fish are gradually decreasing due to overuse of insecticides in the agricultural lands and because of other adverse impact on natural breeding of fishes. "Some 54 species of indigenous fish are in danger of extinction while some 12 species of fish are already extinct," he said.
The Finance Adviser urged the fish scientists, researchers and others concerned to invent suitable methods for cultivation of the indigenous small fish for sustainable development of the country.
CS Karim in his speech urged the countrymen to work together to protect the indigenous small fish, as these are part of the country's tradition.
Terming the European Union an 'exclusive market' for Bangladeshi fish, he said the government has been working to improve the quality and increase the quantity of fish production in the country in a bid to fulfil the demand of consumers.
Later, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam released some fish fry at the Ramna Lake.
"It's quite essential to take coordinated effort to protect indigenous fish," he said while inaugurating a `Fish Fair' in the city as the chief guest.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim was the special guest at the function, chaired by Fisheries and Livestock secretary Syed Ataur Rahman.
The objective of the weeklong `fish fair' at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises is to encourage increase of fish production in the country.
Many government and non-government organizations are taking part in the fair, organized by the Directorate of Fisheries and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The fair will continue till July 29.
The Finance Adviser said fish resources have been playing a very important role in the economy of Bangladesh. "The contribution of fisheries in GDP is more than five percent… it's one of the most potential sectors in the country."
He said the Fisheries department could play an important role in poverty alleviation as some 1.2 million people directly and another 10.2 million indirectly are engaged in the sector.
Aziz said although some 90 per cent of country's fish demand could be met from the water bodies in 1960, of late a mere 36 per cent demand is fulfilled from these areas. He mentioned that indigenous fish are gradually decreasing due to overuse of insecticides in the agricultural lands and because of other adverse impact on natural breeding of fishes. "Some 54 species of indigenous fish are in danger of extinction while some 12 species of fish are already extinct," he said.
The Finance Adviser urged the fish scientists, researchers and others concerned to invent suitable methods for cultivation of the indigenous small fish for sustainable development of the country.
CS Karim in his speech urged the countrymen to work together to protect the indigenous small fish, as these are part of the country's tradition.
Terming the European Union an 'exclusive market' for Bangladeshi fish, he said the government has been working to improve the quality and increase the quantity of fish production in the country in a bid to fulfil the demand of consumers.
Later, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam released some fish fry at the Ramna Lake.