Dr. V. R. P. Sinha
Senior Specialist
FAO/UNDP, FRI, Mymensingh
Respected Chairman, Hon'ble Minister, Hon'ble Members of Parliament, Director FRI, DG, Department of Fisheries, President, BFFEA & distinquested guests
Greetings to you all from UNDP and FAO. I am privileged to give my General Remarks on Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries Resources of Bangladesh to all of you for favour of your kind consideration
Attempts to regulate marine fisheries started as long back as 1800s with the creation in Europe of the Inter Governmental Commission for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). Since then many fisheries bodies were established and at least 9 of them under the auspicious of FAO. But overfishing of stocks have continued and fishes have been exploited at a non-renewable rate. The world fish catch has increased more than four times in the past forty years. With the misuse of modern technology, fleets using sophisticated fish detection devices, non-selective nets even upto 50 km long and bottom trawls resulted in devastating effects on fish stocks and driving some species to extinction. FAO estimates that the cost of over exploitation amounts to about US $ 30,000 million per year and the impact of such exploitation is perhaps the greatest on the developing world.
Fortunately, public and governments are very much aware of the fact that fisheries resources which were regarded as being renewable and unlimited is not ture. A few years ago, Bruntland Commission highlighted the need of sustained development and sustained resource use. Further, the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992 underlined the urgency of such development. A high level board of eminent persons advises the UN Secretary General on matters of sustainable development.
In consonance with these UN efforts, and the follow up of the UN Law of the Sea Convention and the FAO World Fisheries Conference in 1984, an International conference on Responsible Fishing was organised in Mexico in May 1992 which called upon FAO to draft, in consultation with other international organizations an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. The concept of Responsible Fishing involves sustainable utilization of fisheries resources in harmony with the environment and use of capture and aquaculture practices that do not harm eco-systems, resources or food quality (FAO 1993, and Field Document 3 FAO/BGD/89/012). But I personally feel that it is high time to initiate an United Nations Oceans Development Programme (UNODP) to over view the code of conduct and misconduct of responsible fishing internationally, to coordinate the rational development of the ocean resources regionally and to assist the national endeavour in this respect.
Till recent past, the objective of marine fisheries management was seen as maximizing the yield, within the limits of natural production, which was to achieve and maintain catches equal to the MSY. The further realization that fishing has costs, as well as the benefits inherent in the catches, led to accept that greatest catch was not the appropriate management target. Rather, management should seek the greatest net benefit & thus, the “Maximum Economic Yield” or “MEY” became the most desirable management aim.
However, the concepts of costs and benefits in the simplest economic terms need to be further modified to include the social cost and benefit. For example, in Bangladesh, labour use in the fisheries might be counted a benefit, rather than a cost, if the only alternative for displaced fishermen was unemployment. Catches might as well be considered to have a social value as a prime source of scarce animal protein. Thus, the “Maximum Social Yield” is also to be considered to take a holistic approach of management which need to be based on biological productivity, economics and equity.
Thus, the ultimate objective of fisheries management is to control the size and operations of the fisheries that they generate the maximum net social benefits for the present generation and for the posterity, subject to the constraint of the natural limits on production. However, to assess the constraint of the natural limits on production, is far too complex and difficult.
With very limited base line information, it becomes very difficult to plan a strategy of maximum sustainable yield. Particularly, when the resource is very much dynamic and involves very complex components in it. The assessment of fishery resources whether based on primary production, chlorophyll distribution, secondary production, trawl surveys and other different types of surveys are not able to give precise quantum of fishery resources species wise in time and space. Still, it is essential that with modern technology and knowledge much precise modelling is done to assess the fishery resources so as to help the industry to make investment decisions rationally.
Both artisanal and industrial fisheries would need the seasonal stock fluctuating forecasts, precise geographical locations, data on catch composition in different locations for the various varieties of fishery operation and scientific suggestion for optimum and maximum exploitation rate in terms of number of vessels in seasons in different geographical location for different varieties of fish.
Along with these reliable resource information it is important to have continuous monitoring of the fisheries resources particularly of commercial value such as shrimps, lobsters, tunnas and cephalopods. This monitoring requires a very close cooperation between scientists, industry and the fishermen. The information should not only cover the landing of high value catches but also those of low value particularly in terms of their periodicity of availability so that the industry can be able to best plan to convert this low value fishes into value added products.
Thus, stock assessment research is of paramount importance and is to be related on the one hand with the organic productivity of sea and on other, fish landings on the shore. These three components of the research will generate the information on the potential of fish production of the sea, stock availability in the sea and the degree of exploitation resulting in the landings. The total information will only help the country in managing and sustaining its marine fisheries resources effectively.
It is essential to focus attention on increasing the fish catch beyond 40 mt. depth the area of deeper zones which are presently not that much exploited. Stress needs to be given not only on shrimps but also on fin fish resources from the deeper zones.
Research is to be conducted to study to improve the distribution systems to meet the consumer demand. A proper understanding is also needed about the socio-economic condition of the fishermen for their betterment. Processing, distribution and marketing with market survey are to be taken up on priority basis to promote acceptability of diversified fisheries products both in domestic as well as the foreign markets.
Fisheries management is just as essential for the artisanal sector as it is for the industrial fisheries. In Bangladesh, the bulk of the seafood production is derived from artisanal fishing, which involves the great majority of employment and investment. Effective management of this sector is of vital importance.
Under this background I hope the seminar will discuss the ways and means so that artisanal fishermen should get preferential treatment - because their entire livelihood depends on the fishing. Another important aspect which needs to be seriously viewed is their differential higher population growth rate compared to the rest of the country. More job opportunities will be needed than in other sectors. Therefore, it is high time to discuss as to how the fishermen involved in fisheries of coastal zone which are already under severe fishing pressure, are to be motivated to undertake sea farming of suitable species particularly of mussels, cockles, oysters, weeds etc. and also to undertake wherever needed and possible bait-fish culture. Ornamental fish breeding and seed raising are other areas which need to be looked into.
Besides the above, it is important to discuss as to how to ensure the expansion of the ambit of operation of the small fishermen to deeper waters and required liberalized subsidies and credit support so that enterprising fishermen should move into offshore waters. Perhaps conferment of legal rights and reserve exclusive fishery zones for small scale artisnal fishermen in deeper waters would be necessary. Annual fishery management plans with estimation of Total Allowable Catch on quota systems, fishing holidays and effective surveillance are important aspects which need in-depth analysis and decisions for resource management.
I am sure, valuable deliberations on these topics in the seminar would assist the government to formulate the national policy for the sustained development of the marine resources of the country for prosperity and posterity.
