Speakers call for sustainable livelihood and skill development keys to secure small-scale fishermen

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar have called for sustainable livelihoods and skill development initiatives imperative for the small scale fishermen living in the coastal areas in the country.

They urge it at the event titled ‘Sustainable Livelihood and Skill Development are the Keys to Secure Small-scale Fishers Beyond Temporary Support’ orgaqnised by COAST Foundation at the COAST Bhola Center, Bhola Sadar, Bhola on Monday.

The seminar was moderated by Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director, COAST Foundation.  It was presided over by Mobasshir Ullah Chowdhury, Member, General Council, COAST Foundation. Md. Iqbal Hossain, District Fisheries Officer, Bhola, attended as the Chief Guest. Apart from that, representatives from the Bhola Press Club, Coast Guard, Police Administration, Panel Chairman of Dhania Union Parishad, journalists, and fisher leaders participated in the discussion.

Speakers stated that small-scale fishers are facing severe livelihood crisis during the fishing bans imposed to protect Hilsa. Therefore, they urged that, beyond temporary support, sustainable and alternative income-generating opportunities must be ensured immediately.

Timely delivery of government support, direct cash transfer in exchange for delayed rice distribution, and expansion of skill-based IGA programs were emphasised. Participants also called for updating the fisher database with direct participation of fisher representatives.

They further recommended introducing modern fishing techniques, improved fishing tools, and technologies to increase efficiency and safety. The government should take measures to support fish processing, storage facilities, and establish training centers, while ensuring 100% access to family planning services for fisher households.

Mst. Rashida Begum, Assistant Director, COAST Foundation, revealed in her keynote presentation that 60% of registered fishers in Bhola remain income-less for 2-3 months during the fishing ban period each year. The current 40 kg rice support is insufficient and often delayed, forcing families into debt traps with local moneylenders. She stated, “Short-term support can ease hunger but cannot change lives. Institutionalized skill development and sustainable income programs are essential for the dignified livelihoods of small-scale fishers.”

Sanat Kumar Bhowmik noted that Hilsa is a deep-water fish, but due to emerging sandbars, their migratory process to rivers is being obstructed severely, resulting in a 4.5-5% annual decline in Hilsa production. He emphasized immediate government action in this regard. He also mentioned that fisher families, particularly women and youth, could engage in alternative livelihoods such as goat rearing, aquaculture, fish processing, and vegetable cultivation.

Rima Begum and Aklima Begum, women fisher representatives, highlighted that much of the government support does not reach the real fisher families. They shared that families where women are engaged in IGA activities tend to comply with the fishing ban.

Fisher leader Bashir Majhi complained that many who never catch fish have fisher cards, while genuine fishers remain excluded, leaving them hungry and unsupported during bans.

Neyamat Ullah, journalist from Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, said the government must ensure safe alternative livelihoods based on local realities and fisher consultations. Nazrul Haque Anu, another journalist, mentioned that fishers’ human rights are often violated because they are arrested if they go for fishing beyond 90 KM in the Meghna (Char Ilisha to Char Piyal) river and beyond 100 KM in the Tentulia river.

Chief Guest, Md. Iqbal Hossain, District Fisheries Officer, said that once 260 fish species were found in rivers and 400 in the sea, only about 25-26 species remain now. He mentioned ongoing government initiatives for legal net distribution, VGF rice support, and livestock distribution for alternative income.

Chair Mobasshir Ullah Chowdhury emphasized that fishers remain trapped by informal debt traps and cannot sell their catch freely. He urged the government to introduce accessible loan facilities and to remove non-fishers from the fishers list immediately.