Fishing at the wrong river - Halda river, Bangladesh's biggest natural fisheries breeding ground


Fishing at the wrong river


The Halda is considered one of the most important rivers in Bangladesh as a natural fisheries breeding ground. However, collection of a variety of fish spawns has decreased greatly in recent times due to man-made crises and a lack of management, writes Faizul Khan Tanim

photo (dysfunctional sluice gate) by Al-Emrun Garjon


The River Halda is believed to be one of the most important rivers for the fishing industry because of its once abundant supply of fertilised carp (a type of freshwater fish including popular species like rohu, katla and mrigal) and other types of fish eggs, and conditions suitable for the brood (egg-laying) fish that produce them. Additionally, the Halda is the only source of sweet water where fishermen can collect fertilised eggs from the river bed and arrange for them to hatch later on, whereas only hatched fish fry (young fish) – and not fertilised eggs - can be caught in other rivers. ‘These brood fish migrate to this part of the Halda for the purpose of spawning in the months of April and May from the Karnaphuli, Matamuhuri and Shangu rivers.
They depend on special factors like water temperature, a specific river current and lightning to lay their eggs,’ says Shahriar Khaled, an activist associated with the Halda fishing crisis.
Egg crops have decreased greatly over the past few years. According to Dr. Md Ali Azadi, a professor in Chittagong University’s zoology department who has spent over 30 years researching the Halda, only 20 kg of fish fry was collected in 2004, a large decline from the 2,500 kilograms collected in 1946.
The local union chairman alleges that some residents and poachers are catching brood fish from the river during the breeding time, which runs from April to July. They often catch the brood fish using illegal fishing methods such as the use of current nets (nets with very small pores). Md Ilias, a local fisherman, explains that brood fish are weak before laying their eggs, causing them to float near the surface and fall prey to illegal fishing. Other fishermen warn that if the brood fish are caught before spawning, they cannot reproduce. Khaled says, ‘As a result of dishonest fishing, the total egg harvest and fish production is in danger and the river is getting empty of both carp fry and adult fish.’ This activity is often done with the help of local crime syndicates.

Khaled says local committees have appealed to government to assist them in their effort to have the Halda recognised by the UN as a World Heritage Site for its uniqueness and significance, which would afford them greater resources to protect the river and to raise awareness about its importance. During the British India period, Halda fish eggs were exported to Burma and other parts of India. In the 1960s and 70s, two thirds of the ponds in Bangladesh used spawn from the Halda to fill their fish populations.
The local residents dependent on the Halda have made recommendations to save the brood fish and fish fry. Ilias says ‘We need to create alternative sources of income for the fishermen and create awareness among the locals to discourage unscrupulous fishing’.
The Halda flows through the Raujan, Hathazari and Fatikchari thanas of northern Chittagong. The Chittagong District Fisheries Office, the body monitoring the Halda, has taken steps by undertaking several projects and declaring the 10-15 km surrounding area along the river in the Hathazari and Fatikchhari thanas a fish sanctuary some years back. However, the enforcement of this declaration has been poor due to a boundary dispute between the two thanas.
Residents and fishermen dependent on the Halda say if this breeding ground is to be revived, some mandatory steps need to be taken immediately: river bank erosion in two upazillas, Hathazari and Raujan, has to be stopped by putting in boulders and blocks in place; the natural carp breeding areas must be precisely identified and marked; and these areas must be declared fish sanctuaries and no-fishing zones, brought under constant surveillance to prevent unauthorised fishing, particularly during the breeding period from April to July.
The next stages involve river dredging (clearing sediment from the riverbed) and the building of embankments. Repairs must be made to eight of the river’s 12 sluice gates (sliding gates controlling water flow), with navigation gates for proper water flow. Gate operators need to be appointed for each sluice gate.
Choton Kanti Das, a representative of the fishing community of the Halda and Abul Kashem Chowdhury, the chairman of the number 10 North Madarshah union, say that as a part of one project, certain areas of the river would be declared sanctuaries, restricting fishing and the movement of engine boats, and penalizing the use of illegal nets. It is the implementation of projects like this that offer hope, but if these projects are neglected the country will suffer from a shortage of the carp fishes that make up 43 percent of fish demand in the country, according to local experts. Chittagong district fisheries officer (DFO) Ershad Miah says, ‘A fund of almost thirteen crore Taka was dispersed in November 2007 by the government of Bangladesh for a five-year Halda project including research, NGO activity, to build hatcheries and other efforts to restore the Halda to its previous, prosperous state’.

Comments

Anonymous said…
such a great article..i m a resident of hathazari thana..indeed strong steps must be taken to protect this great gift of GOD.. THE halda river..we need men of action not just words..very sorry there are no comments supporting this very important article..people busy with facebook,msn,my space,etc..it is in a very sorry state..and we will only undestand after we lose everything..unlimited dredging is currently taking place to fill the vast area of ononno abashik(newly allocated residential area by the government.)this is greatly affecting the reproduction of the brood fish..fishermen keep complaining about the decline, but they fail to undestand it is because of the many greedy co-fishermen of their's using illegal nets and indulging in other illegal activities during the breeding season.Javed
Anonymous said…
n i forgot to say our government other political parties are very bury and concerned regarding war crimes trials and issues related to past leaders and previous governments, so-called incidents and crimes which took place decades back..the trials which will result in spreading of hatred within our community..nd will not benefit us in any way or improve our crisis and critical issues..crimes committed now are given a blind eye.nd maybe just like the warcrimes these issues might be taken into account after decades when we already lose evrything everything and the consequences and damages will not be repairable...PLEASE OUR APPEAL IS TO TAKE ACTION INTO THESE VERY IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IF NOT FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ATLEAST FOR MOTHER NATURE..dont just be signing deals with india..which giv them more advantages and give us more disadvantages in the long term..PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRIPAIMUKH DAMN BEING BUILT BY OUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS.. dont just keep urself busy playing AROUND WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS REGARDING THE ACC(Anti corruption commitee) making them useless and making life easier for the BRIBE TAKERS...JAVED (javed-@hotmail.com).thank u
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said…
Correction for the above
comment:
n i forgot to say our respected
government and other
concerned organisations are very
busy CHANGING NAMES of
different establishments and
concerned regarding war crimes
trials and issues related to past
leaders and previous
governments, so-called incidents
and crimes which took place
decades back..and the trials
which will only result in
spreading of hatred within our
community..nd will not benefit us
in any way or improve our crisis
and critical issues..crimes
committed presently by the pro-
govt. activists and parties (like
the BCL) are given a blind
eye,and maybe just like the
warcrimes these issues might be
taken into account after decades
when we will have already lost
everything and the consequences
and damages will be
unrepairable...PLEASE OUR
APPEAL IS TO TAKE ACTION
INTO THESE VERY IMPORTANT
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IF NOT
FOR THE SAKE OF THE
COUNTRY PEOPLE ATLEAST FOR
MOTHER NATURE..
dont just be signing deals with
india..which give them more
advantages and give us more
disadvantages in the long
term..PLEASE DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE TRIPAIMUKH DAMN
BEING BUILT BY OUR SO-
CALLED FRIENDS.. dont just keep
urself busy playing AROUND
WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL
LAWS REGARDING THE ACC(Anti
corruption commitee) making
them (ACC) useless and making
life easier for the BRIBE TAKERS..
And our opposition party people
are very busy participating in
regular TV TALK-SHOWS rather
than compelling to their national
duty of appealing and presenting
the people's problems in the
parliament...
My appeal to all the MP's: Please
keep in mind the pledges and
expectations people had when
casting their votes..We all wanted
to see improvement in our
polical culture..(din-bodol)..
JAVED (javed-
@hotmail.com).thank u
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