Minister urges research to protect endangered indigenous fish
The government plans to establish natural fish sanctuaries in rivers, haors, baors, canals and other water bodies across Bangladesh to increase natural fish production and restore declining freshwater species, Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said.
“We are going to take a massive plan to establish sweet water natural fish sanctuaries in different haor, Baor, river, canals and sea water to revive the availability of fresh water fisheries,” he said.
The initiative would be taken under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the minister said while addressing a workshop on annual research progress for 2025-26 and research planning for 2026-27 at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium.
The Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) organised the event, which focused on research priorities and ways to strengthen the fisheries sector.
The minister said Bangladesh once had more than 300 native freshwater fish species, but many had disappeared while others were nearing extinction because of habitat loss, overfishing, pollution and climate change.
He also warned that rivers and other water bodies were shrinking rapidly because of development interventions, unplanned urbanisation, encroachment and siltation, destroying the habitats of indigenous fish.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 64 freshwater fish species in Bangladesh fall into categories ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. Another 30 have become extinct in the wild over the past 30 to 40 years.
BFRI has so far revived 37 of 67 species that disappeared from the wild through captive breeding programmes and conservation efforts.
Highlighting the Bengali tradition of “Mache-Bhate Bangali”, the minister said Bangladesh had achieved self-sufficiency in fish production through quality research in previous years.
He acknowledged significant progress in farmed fish production, quality improvement and feed management, but warned that natural fish breeding grounds were nearing destruction because of climate change and a lack of public awareness.
The government was pursuing a substantial budget and a long-term plan to address the crisis this year, he said.
Rashid urged researchers and scientists to intensify work on breeding, breed development and the recovery of endangered indigenous fish species. He also called for research into the effects of climate change, disease prevention and the production of quality fish fry.
He stressed the need to harness the potential of coastal and marine fisheries, raise public awareness and enforce laws against harmful fishing nets. Researchers and producers should also prioritise safe fish production by avoiding feed containing ingredients hazardous to human health, he said.
Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku stressed that increased fish production must go hand in hand with maintaining quality standards.
“The taste and quality of fish largely depend on water quality. Therefore, alongside boosting fish production, pollution in water bodies must be prevented, and a suitable environment for the natural growth of fish must be ensured,” he said.
Tuku called for joint efforts to improve the fisheries sector. He said excavating rivers and canals to increase water flow and reduce waterlogging would help create a suitable environment for fish.
The workshop was chaired by BFRI Director General Dr Md Latiful Islam. Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Delwar Hossain, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Chairman Md Mir Hossain, Department of Livestock Services Director General Md Shahzaman Khan and BARC Executive Chairman Dr Md Abdus Salam also addressed the event.
University teachers, senior ministry officials, BFRI scientists, fisheries officials and representatives of fishermen attended.
