Rise in fish output to entail \\\'big change in sector\\\'

FE Report | Published: May 04, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The fisheries sector of Bangladesh would see a big change, if the production of fish could be increased, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque said Saturday.
He said: "The demand for fish in the country is around 4.2 to 4.3 million tonnes per year but the production of Bangladesh is fewer than that."
He was speaking as chief guest at the consultation workshop on 'Creating Synergy among research, policy formulation and implementation and the industry for sustainable development of fisheries in Bangladesh' at the conference room of the Department of Fisheries.
The Department of Fishers, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum (BFRF) and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) jointly organised the consultation workshop.
Mr Hoque said: "To stop rice bran export from Bangladesh to India, recently a request was sent to the food ministry. We are expecting that if the export of rice bran stops, the production cost of fish will be reduced."
BFRF and BSFF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mutual cooperation in sustainable development of shrimp and fish industries
BFRF President Prof. Abdul Wahab and BSFF Chairman Syed Mamudul Huq signed the MoU on behalf of their organisations.
These three were basically interlinked and without understanding each of these and interlinking with one another, it would be difficult to harness the huge potential of any sector, especially for development of sustainable fisheries in Bangladesh.
Former Director General of Asian Development Bank Sultan Hafeez Rahman said the fishermen were not getting different items which were necessary for fish production.
"If we can help the fishermen properly then more foreign exchange earning is possible," He said.
Former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Prof Abdus Sattar Mondal said "The production cost in Bangladesh was very high but lower in foreign countries. For that reason we are incurring loss every year."
"Such as -- the production cost of a kg of Pangas fish is Tk 180 but it sells at Tk 90 per kg. The price of a kg of fish food is Tk 50 so the fishermen are feeling discouraged to cultivate fish," he said.