Fishing Ground of Bay of Bengal

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Fishing Ground of Bay of Bengal
Index
Sl No. Content Page NO.
01 Introduction 01
02 Features of Bay of Bengal 02
03 Fishing Ground 02-05
04 Fishing problems in the Bay of Bengal 05
05 Conclusion 05

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Introduction:
Bay of Bengal is the 64th largest marine Ecosystem. It is a northern extension of the Indian Ocean,
positioned between India and Sri Lanka in the west, Bangladesh to the north, and Myanmar
(Burma) and the northern part of the Malay Peninsula to the east. It is approximately 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) wide, with an average depth near 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). The maximum depth is
recorded at 15,400 feet (4,694 meters). It is located between latitudes 5°N and 22°N and longitudes
80°E and 100°E. It is bounded in the west by the east coasts of Sri Lanka and India, on the north
by the deltaic region of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system, and on the east by the
Myanmar peninsula extended up to the Andaman-Nicobar ridges. The southern boundary of the
Bay is approximately along the line drawn from Dondra Head in the south of Sri Lanka to the
north tip of Sumatra. The Bay occupies an area of about 2.2 million sq km and the average depth
is 2,600m with a maximum depth of 5,258m. Bangladesh is situated at the head of the Bay of
Bengal.

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Fig: Bay of Bengal
Features of Bay of Bengal:
The Bay of Bengal is full of biological diversity, diverging amongst coral reefs, estuaries, fish
spawning and nursery areas, and mangroves.Kerilia jerdonii is a sea snake of the Bay of Bengal.
Glory of Bengal cone (Conus bengalensis) is just one of the seashells which can be photographed
along beaches of the Bay of Bengal. An endangered species, the olive ridley sea turtle can survive
because of the nesting grounds made available at the Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary,
Gahirmatha Beach, Odisha, India. Marlin, barracuda, skipjack tuna, (Katsuwonus pelamis),
yellowfin tuna, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin (Sousa chinensis), and Bryde's whale
(Balaenoptera edeni) are a few of the marine animals. Bay of Bengal hogfish (Bodianus neilli) is
a type of wrass which live in turbid lagoon reefs or shallow coastal reefs. Schools of dolphins can
be seen, whether they are the bottle nose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), pantropical spotted dolphin
(Stenella attenuata) or the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Tuna and dolphins usually reside
in the same waters. In shallower and warmer coastal waters the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella

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brevirostris) can be found. Geographical characteristics Hydrological conditions surface
hydrology of the Bay of Bengal is basically determined by the monsoon winds and to some extent
by the hydrological characteristics of the open part of the Indian Ocean. Fresh water from the rivers
largely influences the coastal northern part of the Bay. The river of Bangladesh discharges the vast
amount of 1,222 million cubic meters of fresh water into the Bay. The temperature, salinity and
density of the water of the southern part of the Bay of Bengal is, almost the same as in the open
part of the ocean. In the coastal region of the Bay and in the northeastern part of the Andaman Sea
where a significant influence of river water is present, the temperature and salinity are seen to be
different from the open part of the Bay. The waves and ripples entering from the southern part of
the Bay provide the energy for mixing the water and consequently bring uniformity in its chemical
and physical properties. Tidal action is also very great in the shallow coastal zones.
Fishing Ground: A part of a body of water where the fishing is usually good. Fishing ground is
those area of a water body where fish concentration remains always significant. Generally fishing
ground is divided into two ways- permanent fishing ground and temporary fishing ground. Bay of
Bengal has four fishing ground-
 Swatch of o ground
 Middle ground
 south patches
 South of south patches

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Fig: Fishing Ground of Bay of Bengal
Table: Bay of Bengal: Fishing ground, Area and Location
Fishing Ground Area Location
Swatch of no ground 3,800 km2 89.35ºE to 90.10ºE and
20.55ºS to 21.55ºS
Middle ground 4,600 km2 90.20ºE to 91.30ºE and
20.25ºS to 21.20ºS
South patches 3,400 km2 91.30ºE to 92.10ºE and
20.55ºS to 21.52ºS

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South of south patches 2,800 km2 91.30ºE to 92.20ºE and
20.15ºS 20.50ºS
Swatch of no ground: Swatch of no Ground a trough-shaped marine valley or canyon that cross
the continental shelf diagonally and situated on the south of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. It is
also known as Ganga Trough. Swatch of no Ground located at 89.35°E to 90.10°E and 20.55°S to
21.55°S, about 30 km away from Dublarchar and 40 km from Sunarchar. Total area is about 3,800
sq km, of which 70% is more than 40m deep. Overall depth of the area ranges from 10m to 100m.
Bottom sediment consists of muddy sand. Nearest distance of the ground from Chittagong and
Cox’s Bazar is 40 km and 10 km respectively. Surface salinity is 28% to 34%, while the bottom
salinity is 30% to 35%. Water temperature falls within 24°C to 30°C. Swatch of No-Ground is a
mysterious submarine canyon in the Bay of Bengal which is geologically, hydrologically and
ecologically unexplored marine ecosystem on earth. The area is a key breeding and spawing
ground for dolphins, whales, sharks and turtles. A part of it was announced as the country's first
Marine Protected Area (MPA) by the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The marine protected
area was established for the long-term protection of cetaceans that inhabit waters offshore of
Bangladesh.
Middle ground: Middle ground located at 90.20°E to 91.30°E and 20°25'S to 21.20°S, having a
total area of about 4,600 sq km. The nearest distance from Cox's Bazar is about 65 km. The depth
of 70% of the total area is more than 40m. Bottom sediment is soft mud or muddy sand. Surface
salinity ranges from 22% to 34% and bottom salinity 28% to 35%. Water temperature is between
26'C and 28'C.
South patches: South patches located at 91.30°E to 92.10°E and 20.55°S to 21.52°S, having a
total area of 3,662 sq km. Depth ranging from 10m to 100m, but 90% of the total area is less than
40m deep. Bottom sediment is sandy or slightly muddy sand. Nearest distance of the ground from
Chittagong and Cox's Bazar is 40 km and 10 km respectively. Salinity in surface water ranges from
26% to 32% and 30% to 35% in bottom water. Water temperature varies between 20° and 28°C.
South of south patches: South of south patches located at 91.30°E to 92.20°E and 20.15°S
20.50°S, having an area of 2,538 sq km. The nearest boundary of this area is 5 km from Teknaf.

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Depth ranges from 10m to 100m. Within this ground 75% of the area is more than 40m deep.
Bottom is sandy or muddy sand. Surface salinity ranges from 18% to 34% and bottom water
salinity from 28% to 38%. Water temperature ranges between 22°C and 30°C.
Fishing problems in the Bay of Bengal:
1. Problem associated with fishing crafts.
2. Problem associated with fishing gears.
3. Insufficient number of fishermen.
4. Problem with detection of fishing ground.
5. Lack of sufficient fish landing center.
6. Poaching (fishing by foreigners).
7. Lack of government support.
8. Problem associated with stock assessment.
9. Environmental hazard
Conclusion:
All these fishing grounds are potential reserves for fish and shrimp. Most of the known commercial
species of shrimps and fishes are harvested from these areas by trawlers or mechanized fishing
boats. Commercially important shrimp and fish species include tiger shrimp, karuma shrimp, cat
fish, Bombay duck, snapper, flounder, Indian salmon, crocker, seabream, jawfish, mullet, pomfret,
ribbon fish, anchovy, hilsa, oil sardine, tuna, mackerel and skipjack.
References:
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bay_of_Bengal
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Swatch_of_no_Ground
https://www.slideshare.net/CREATIVEAvro/fishing-ground-of-bob
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal
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