Monjur Morshed Tuhin, Patuakhali.

Two fish sanctuaries have been established in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila with the aim of conserving indigenous fish species, protecting biodiversity and sustainable fisheries management.

This initiative, implemented in the 2024-2025 fiscal year under the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project (part of the Department of Fisheries) of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh with funding from the World Bank Group, has already started giving positive results as a safe breeding ground for indigenous fish.

The project is being implemented across a total of 20 hectares of water bodies in two canals in Badarpur and Moukaron Unions of Patuakhali Sadar Upazila. Out of these, the area of two sanctuaries is 1 hectare each, for a total of 2 hectares. The project is being implemented by the Office of the Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, Patuakhali Sadar.

At the beginning of the project, various native fish species including Rui, Katal, Ir, Sol, Bayal were released in the sanctuary. Currently, most of these fish have matured and many fish weigh between 2 and 3.5 kg. The fish are growing up in a safe environment by consuming completely natural food in the natural environment and are also breeding in a safe environment, which is playing an important role in increasing the number of native fish in the local water bodies.

Since the establishment of the sanctuary, it has been renovated once. Since then, the sanctuary has been preserved with regular guarding and the cooperation of the local people.

The sanctuary guard, Md. Dulal Hossain, said that there are five safe fish shelters in an area of about 1 hectare in the Telikhali Sanctuary. Various species of fish were officially released. Now many fish weigh more than 2 kg and these fish are breeding regularly. The best thing is that the locals are very aware. No one comes to the sanctuary to fish.

Due to the sanctuary, fishermen on both banks of the canal have chosen alternative livelihoods. As part of their rehabilitation, the government has given a calf each to 10 beneficiaries in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Currently, the market price of each calf has increased from about 80 thousand to 1 lakh taka, which has become an income-generating asset for them.

Beneficiary Md. Faruk Hawlader said, My house is on the banks of the Telikhali canal. Earlier, I used to fish in this canal and run my family. After the sanctuary was established, we were associated with the association. We are helping to protect the sanctuary. The government has given cows to 10 of us, which is now a major source of income for our family.

District Fisheries Officer (Additional Duty) Tapan Majumder said, both the common man and nature are benefiting from the implementation of the fisheries sanctuary. This sanctuary is an important part of the initiative taken by the government to dig canals and conserve native fish. Here, fish are growing and breeding safely. Local fishermen are earning a living by harvesting fish that have spread outside the sanctuary. If such sanctuaries can be established in every upazila of the district, significant success can be achieved in both the conservation and production of native fish.

According to experts, fish sanctuaries are not just a fish conservation project; they are an effective system for protecting the aquatic environment and biodiversity. As safe breeding grounds are ensured, the number of native fish increases, the ecological balance of the water body is maintained, and the income of fishermen also increases in the long term. At the same time, the creation of alternative livelihood opportunities reduces the additional pressure on natural resources.

Locals expect that if the number of such sanctuaries is further increased, the country's fisheries will be enriched in addition to conserving endangered native fish and the path to ensuring sustainable livelihoods will be strengthened.