Fish production in the country increased by over 1.23 million (12.35 lakh) tonnes in eight years as a result of various effective programmes taken by the government, reports BSS.
"We are getting 60 per cent animal protein from the fisheries sector..... The government is attaching priority to fisheries sector to meet the growing demand of protein," Director General of Fisheries Department Dr Md Goljar Hossain told the news agency on Saturday.
He said fisheries production of the country was more than 2.89 million (28.99 lakh) tonnes in fiscal year 2009-2010, while it rose to over 4.13 million (41.34 lakh) tonnes in 2016-17, meaning the fish production increased by over 1.23 million (12.35 lakh) tonnes.
According to Bangladesh Economic Survey-2017, 23.81 per cent of total agriculture income comes from fisheries sector.
In 2009-10, the total fish production was over 2.89 million (28.99 lakh) tonnes while it was 3.062 million (30.62 lakh) tonnes in 2010-11, 3.684 million (36.84 lakh) tonnes in 2014-15, 3.878 million (38.78 lakh) tonnes in 2015-16 and 4.134 million (41.34 lakh) tonnes in 2016-17, the survey added.
The government's target of fish production for 2017-18 is 4.2 million (42 lakh) tonnes.
Dr Goljar said, "Both public and private sectors have made contributions to increasing the fish production in the country, which eventually is boosting economic progress fulfilling domestic demand."
The major programmes for increasing fish production are the expansion and strengthening of community-based fish cultivation programme, ensuring access of fish cultivators to khas (government) wetlands, taking marshland nurturing programme and release of fish fries to water bodies and promoting innovative technology through research works.
Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Dr Yahiya Mahmood told the news agency nearly 20 million (two crore) people including a large number of women directly and indirectly depend on fisheries sector. The fisheries sector creates 0.6 million (six lakh) employment facilities every year, he added.
Dr Yahiya said, "We have developed 57 new technologies for promoting and expansion of fisheries sector... These technologies have made a valuable contribution to enhancing fish production."
The institute also made an important contribution to prevent extinction of indigenous species of fish, he added.
