S.M. Saiful Islam Kabir from Sundarbans 

The poor eat puti fish, Bengalis love rice - fish”—such sayings are now merely proverbs. Once upon a time, rivers, canals, and wetlands of the country were abundant with indigenous fish species but now, those fish are rarely seen. 

Over the past few decades, many indigenous fish species have been on the verge of extinction. In the coastal region of the world's largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans—especially in nine upazilas of the south-western coastal districts including Morelganj and Sharankhola of Bagerhat, known as the fish reservoir—the existence of half a hundred indigenous fish species has almost disappeared. The ponds are no longer full of fish.

Due to climate change, natural disasters, lack of awareness, indiscriminate extraction of saline water for bagda shrimp cultivation, excessive use of harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers in crops, and scarcity of freshwater, about half a hundred freshwater indigenous fish species in this fish-rich southern region are on the verge of extinction. Delicious indigenous fish are now hard to find. There is a severe crisis of indigenous fish in cities, towns, villages, and markets across 21 districts of the southwest region. Whatever is available comes at a sky-high price.

In the past, due to governmental indifference, lack of realistic long-term planning by the Department of Fisheries, and failure to properly implement various undertaken projects and activities, this sector has gone into decline. After the current government assumed power, the Department of Fisheries and a few NGOs have initiated some projects, but they are very minimal. Responsible parties are not coming forward to create public awareness.

According to fisheries scientists, even a few decades ago, this region had about 250 species of freshwater fish. But due to various man-made obstacles, many of these species are now no longer seen. Moreover, during the monsoon season, large-scale fishing of egg-bearing fish using current nets in rivers, canals, and wetlands is driving the extinction of various indigenous freshwater fish species. Over time, the tradition of the fish-and-rice-loving Bengali is disappearing.

According to the Department of Fisheries, two decades ago, areas like Sharankhola, Morelganj, Mongla, Rampal of Bagerhat, and Rupsha, Terokhada, Digholia, Batiaghata, Dumuria, Paikgacha, Koyra, and Phultala of Khulna and its nearby coastal areas had about 250 species of freshwater fish. Among them, shoal, taki, koi, gojal, tengra, chital, shing, khoira, bata, paisha, kalibaush, bailya, kajoli, sarputi, pabda, kheilsha, dogri, jaba, bhola, bagar, bashpata, bhangan, kain, deshi puti, and goda shrimp—around fifty species of freshwater fish—are now on the verge of extinction. These fish were rich in taste and nutritional value. Fisher communities used to collect them from hundreds of haors, baors, wetlands, canals, and rivers of this region. All year round, they fulfilled their family needs and earned a livelihood through fishing. During the dry season, when water levels dropped in wetlands, a festival of fishing would begin.

Before the monsoon, starting in April, fish begin spawning in canals, wetlands, and rivers. The widespread use of current nets leads to the capture of fish fry, severely hampering fish reproduction. Thousands of fry are destroyed in the nets.

According to environmental and fisheries scientists, the causes behind fish species extinction in the southern region include unplanned damming of water bodies, preventing the arrival of spawning fish during peak monsoon; obstruction to the natural movement of fish; and progressive siltation of canals, wetlands, and baors, reducing breeding grounds and hindering fish reproduction. Moreover, water pollution, reduction in waterbody depth, and use of current nets to catch small fish are also destroying fish species. Due to severe water pollution, Khulna’s Mayur River has become unsuitable for fish breeding and survival. Saline water reservoirs built by damming for bagda shrimp cultivation are leading to the extinction of many freshwater species.

To conserve indigenous fish species, it is essential to raise awareness among fishermen and the general public, take effective steps by the local Department of Fisheries, and ensure the proper implementation of fish conservation laws.