VARIATION AND AVAILABILITY OF FISHING GEARS AND CRAFTS USED BY THE FISHER ADJACENT TO SARIAKANDI FISH PASS, BOGURA, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Despite the meaningful significance of artisanal fishing in the Jamuna and Bangali river adjacent to Sariakandi Fish Pass, understanding of the fishing gears and techniques utilized is inadequate and out of date. Little is known about various fishing gears and crafts by fishermen in those rivers. A survey of 48 artisanal fishermen from 4 unions (Fulbari, Kajla, Kornibari and Kutubpur) of Sariakandi Upazila, Bogura was conducted to address these issues. The required data for this study were collected from October 2021 to March 2022. In addition to conducting structured questionnaires for the fishermen, the survey also involved conducting unstructured interviews with the local leader of the fisher communities and with the Upazila Fisheries Officer. A total of 9 major groups of fishing gear were found. Those were gill net, cast net, hook and line, drag net, lift net, seine net, purse net, trapping gear and wounding gear. Among them gill net (24%), drag net (20%) and trapping gear (20%) were most common. Motorized and non- motorized boats were the type of craft often utilized in the area, although ownership among fisherman varies. Fishers who employed two or more fishing gears and crafts belonged to a co-operative society. The usage of some illegal fishing gears was also addressed. Among those illegal gears, there were some gears which were leading to the destruction of all aquatic biodiversity including fish. The ecology of the Jamuna and Bangali rivers was being significantly impacted by the combined use of all legal and illegal fishing gears. To stabilize the situation, it is imperative to effectively stop the use of illegal fishing gears and crafts. Ensuring good use of the remaining fishing gears and crafts would provide the biodiversity of the Jamuna and Bangali rivers and the socioeconomic standing of the fishermen a new dimension