The launch of long-liner for fishing tuna fish in the deep-sea has further been delayed as none of the four licenced firms have bought the vessels yet for not having necessary survey on tuna and tuna-like species.
The state-run fisheries department is now planning to conduct a survey before according licences to the new firms.
The survey process will not start before getting the approval for the extension of Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Capacity Building Project at Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The state-of-the-art trawl survey vessel-'RV Meen Sandhani'- is in 'all hands on the deck' mood to conduct the first marine fish stock survey, which has been the first since the country's independence in 1971.
The ship is ready but the project approval stands in the way of go-ahead for survey, National Consultant of the project Manmatha Nath Sarker said.
Last year, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) awarded licences to four firms to catch tuna and pelagic fishes beyond the 200-metre depth of the Bay of Bengal and in the Indian Ocean.
None of them bought vessel and started catching tuna.
Sea Link is one of them. Chief Executive of Sea Link Hasanul Bari had earlier told The Financial Express that his company is ready to float the vessel but it cannot invest huge money unless proper survey is done.
"No bank is providing loan without survey or feasibility study. We can't do the study. This has to be done by the government," Mr Bari said.
As these four firms are not launching their catch, the government has again called tender for new firms this year.
As of now, a total of 16 firms have applied to the Department of Fisheries (DoF) seeking permission.
However, deputy chief of DoF (Sea) Ferdous Ahmed said there had been no progress in pressing into service of long liner for a long time.
He refused to make further comment on the process.
Currently, Bangladesh has 246 small trawling vessels licenced for fishing beyond 40 depth limit in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), most high-sea tuna seiners average about 70 to 80 meters in length and can carry about 1,000 to 1,500 tonnes of frozen tuna. Such vessels can fish throughout the oceans of the world, and make trips that last up to several months before returning to port.
On the other hand, the long-lining involves the use of a mainline, which can be more than 100 km in length and from which as many as 3,000 branch lines, each with a baited hook, are dangled in the water column.
Bangladesh has at least 400 fish species in its 118,000 square kilometer-maritime area.
According to Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), about 90 species are commercially important. But the traditional fishing is not targeted at species.
After securing the membership of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, now the global ocean is open for Bangladeshi licenced companies to fish targeting only Tuna and other Tuna-like pelagic fish species.
Neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India are using longline fishing and are earning a handsome amount from exporting the catches.
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