Current constraints and future possibilities for Bangladesh fisheries

Fisheries are an important source of animal protein, foreign exchange earnings and employment generation in Bangladesh. This paper examines the current status of fisheries in Bangladesh, for each of the major sub-sectors — inland open waters, inland closed waters (aquaculture), and marine fisheries. Production has been on the increase for all types of fisheries, but the productivity of rivers and estuaries is variable, there are many constraints on expansion, and it is difficult to identify significant achievements from government policy efforts. A host of factors are responsible for the under-utilisation of fishing areas, including resource limitations, poor implementation of fisheries laws, the limited spread of fish farming technology, low financial capacities and ineffective extension practices. These constraints are discussed for the three sub-sectors, and some possibilities for future improvements are suggested.