Fisheries resource management and fishers access mechanisms to the resource

1. SubmittedTo:
Dr. S.M. Rafiquzzaman
Associate professor,
Dept. of Fisheries Biology and
Aquatic Environment
Faculty of Fisheries.
Submitted By:
1.Nazmul Ahmed Oli (12-05-2835)
2.Nushrat Nuremy(12-05-2836)
3.Bishwajit KarmakarSunny(12-
05-2837)
4.Rupa shaha (12-05-2838)
5.Mahfuzur Rahman (12-05-2839)

2. Introduction:
Fisheries resource management has changed over the
year and different management have been adopted but
the fishers’ always remain deprived from actual their
rights

3. History
In 1773 a new system of land rights has been established by
Birthish Government in which the landlord were granted the
ownership of the Jalmohal.
In 1950 the Zamindar system was abolished and the
Jalmohal was vested to with the government.
1995, the Jalmohal were declared lease free and open to all
for fishing and this is under the ministry of fisheries
(MoFL/DoF).

4. Continued
The water bodies in the Sundarbans is
under the department of Forest
Marine Fisheries resources has been
managed by the Department of Fisheries
(DoF)

5. Present Management Practices and
Fishers’Access
• No leasing system with free
access to all
• Under 20 acres waterbody
has been leased to
unemployed youth
association.
• Above 20 acres waterbody
has been leased through
tender system
• New Fisheries management
policy :-
• 1. Community based Fisheries
management
• 2. Government-Community
Co-management.
Jalmohal Management System

6. Fishers Access to Floodplain
For livelihood purpose poor fishermen use the seasonal
flood plain area. Recently community based fisheries
management has been established in Dautkandi area in
Comilla District
10,000 acres flood plain area is under community based
fisheries management. But the poor fishers don’t have any
access to those area. But different NGO’s are taking the
ownership and allowing the fishers to become stake
holder.

7. Problems in Fishers Access & Fisheries
Management
 Lack of Credit- Fishers’ have no credit for accessing
the license hence they have to depend on Mohajon
 Higher Fixed Rate- A higher lease value rate affects
the fishers to access the resource.
 Short-term Revenue Tendency- This affects both the
fishes and fisheries resources.
 Man made interventions disrupts fishing routes,
migrations and habitat destruction.
 Pollution- Agricultural and industrial pollution have
created a tremendous pressure on fish stock.

8. Managing Fishers Right
 Licensing system to the genuine fishers.
 Managing policies without middleman and with
providing direct license.
 Community Based Fisheries Management program.
Laws and Regulations:
1. Protection of conservation of fish act.
2. The marine fisheries ordinance and rules.

9. Fishing Ban and Impact of Fish Sanctuary
 Jatka(below 23 cm) catching have been prohibited in
November to April.
 Manufacturing current jal has been restricted.
 The laws and regulations are not against the fishers. But
banning in catching fish has affected the livelihood.
 The positive of banning is increased Hilsa production
(from 199032MT-290000MT).
 Establishment of fish sanctuary has increased production
from 151Kg/hec to 389Kg/hec.

10. Fish Lean
Lean fishing periods have decreased the production
less than one forth to half of peak season catch
During leaning period fishers take loan or Dadon
from Mohajon or Arotdar
Thus they reduce expenditure by reducing cost of
basic needs resulting in sub-human life style.

11. Fish Ban
Government has imposed ban in approximately 330km water body in
different time of the year.
During ban period, fishers take loan from money lender or NGO’s and
adopt different professions
Government provides some compensations like rice(10kg/family) or
credit to poor farmers.
Government compensation is not properly distributed due to politics
and nepotism.
Some studies recommends to withdraw ban by taking new management
policies or CBFM..

12. Key Findings
Fishers can’t access to the water bodies due to capital
Fishers are not aware of their rights due to illiteracy.
Fishers do not get enough credit during lean and ban time.
Fishing is affected by natural hazards
Lack of alternate income generating activities.
Socio-economic aspects

13. Resource, Management & Access to resource
Revenue oriented leasing system depletes fishers access
Increasing population putting heavy pressure on fisheries
resource.
Decreased water body(beel & Haor) during dry season.
Overfishing in the open access flowing river
New fisheries management policies and community based
fisheries management.

14. Continued
Ban of fishing for 3 months(Nov-Jan) in Andharmanik river and
2 months(Mar- Apr) in lower Meghna.
Fisheries sanctuaries with implantation of fisheries regulation in
Haor and Beel.
Intervention like AFCD or AFDI project inhibiting the use of
chemicals in agriculture.
Introduction of flood-plain aquaculture practices (Dautkandi,
Comilla)
Controlled utilization and leasing of Jalmohals for sustainable
increased production.

15. Strategies During Lean and Ban of Fishing
Providing more opportunities for
alternate income generation removing
the activity of middleman
Providing enough compensation from
the government during ban of fishing in
lower Meghna and Andharmanik river

16. Policy Implications and recommendations
 Minimizing over-exploitation and over-fishing by banning
revenue oriented short-term leasing.
 Ban of all kind of fishing gear for 2-3months in 330km area
of Meghna and Andharmanik river to save Jatka. Though
some studies refers to ban of only harmful fishing gears.
 Compensations provided by the government is insufficient.
The distribution should be free of politics and nepotism.
 Arrangement of alternate job opportunities during lean and
ban period to control over –fishing and maintianing
sustainable stock.

17. Continued
 Strict enforcement of fish laws and regulations and
establishment of fish sanctuaries.
 Providing institutional credits to the poor farmers with lowest
interest and easy policies.
 Collaborations of MOL and MOFL will reduce conflict
among the policy strategies resulting unified management
system.
 Establishment of institutional capabilities to enforce laws and
increasing capacity of DOF with more man power and
logistics.

18. Conclusion:
By recognizing the existing constrains, a new
fisheries sector resource management must be
needed for developed of an appropriate regime
for the management of fisheries resources
which must be suitable for the poor fisherman