Govt eyes 5.64m tonnes of fish next fiscal year

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday said fisheries remained a key pillar of Bangladesh’s food and nutrition security, employment, exports and sustainable economic growth, as the government set a target of producing 5.64 million metric tonnes of fish next fiscal year.

In a message ahead of National Fisheries Fortnight-2026, beginning today, he said the government was pursuing timely policies and programmes to build a safe, modern, science-based and export-oriented fisheries sector.

The government is seeking to make Bangladesh’s fisheries sector more productive, competitive and sustainable through private investment, modern technology, innovation and participatory management, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said.

In a message on the occasion of National Fisheries Fortnight-2026 (Jatiya Matsya Pokkho), to be observed from today, he said fisheries was one of the country’s major foundations for food and nutrition security, employment generation, poverty alleviation, foreign currency earnings and sustainable economic growth.

This year’s theme, “A self-reliant country through silver fish, Bangladesh first”, reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the sector, he said.

The Prime Minister said fish was not only a major source of animal protein and nutrition but also contributed to rural employment, aquatic environmental balance, biodiversity conservation, foreign currency earnings and overall socioeconomic development.

He said the sector’s achievements through concerted efforts were now recognised globally.

According to a 2026 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report, Bangladesh ranks second in the world in freshwater fish catch and fifth in fish production in inland closed water bodies, he said, commending all concerned for the achievement.

The government is placing particular emphasis on ensuring safe fish production that meets international standards, Tarique said.

He said measures were being taken to eliminate harmful chemicals, heavy metals and microbial contamination from the production and marketing systems of farmed fish.

Monitoring would also be strengthened to prevent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hatcheries and fish feed, while laboratories across the country would be modernised and expanded to ensure compliance with international food safety standards.

The government has also taken an initiative to establish a separate trade wing in the ministry to expand exports of Bangladeshi fish and fisheries products in international markets.

A target has been set to raise total fish production to 5.64 million metric tonnes in the next fiscal year, he said.

The Prime Minister said the government was also taking steps to introduce the country’s first fisheries insurance scheme to provide financial protection to fishers and fish farmers affected by natural disasters and other risks.

“I believe these measures will make the fisheries sector more productive, competitive and sustainable,” he said.

The government was committed to protecting the rights of genuine fishers and poor communities in natural water bodies based on the principle “Those who own the nets, own the water bodies (Jaal Jar, Jol Tar),” Tarique said.

He stressed the need for coordinated measures to increase fish production through mechanisation and intensification of fish farming, conserve indigenous species, improve open-water ecosystems and prevent aquatic pollution.

Restoring connections between rivers and haors-baors, canals, wetlands and vast floodplains through canal excavation programmes would significantly increase fish production in open water bodies, he said.
The Prime Minister also called for sustainable harvesting of marine fisheries resources to tap Bangladesh’s vast Blue Economy potential.

He said regular stock assessments, resource conservation and science-based management were essential for sustainable marine fisheries.

“Coordinated initiatives by all concerned are essential to this end,” he added.

Tarique expressed hope that collective efforts by government and private institutions, researchers, entrepreneurs, fish farmers and fishers would help the fisheries sector prosper further.

He said a stronger fisheries sector would make a greater contribution to food and nutrition security, employment, exports and economic growth.

The Prime Minister wished overall success to programmes organised on the occasion of National Fisheries Fortnight-2026 (Jatiya Matsya Pokkho).