Nearly a third of caught freshwater and marine fish in Bangladesh is lost before it reaches consumers, according to a new study.

In addition to the physical loss, fish quality deteriorates by 15 percent.  These losses are due to a variety of reasons, including inappropriate methods of fishing, poor equipment, improper handling, and lack of preservation facilities.

The findings were from a study conducted by Bangladesh Agricultural University. Researchers assessed post-harvest fish losses and identified critical loss points in both marine capture and inland fisheries. The study was conducted through a project implemented by the Department of Fisheries with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

“Food loss and waste occurs in most, if not all, supply chains,” said FAO Representative in Bangladesh, Robert D. Simpson. “But this study has found an unacceptable level of loss, both quantitative and qualitative, that amounts to a national threat to food and nutrition security, people’s livelihoods, and the sustainability of a crucial natural resource.”

In Bangladesh, small-scale fisheries play an important role in food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, rural development, and sustainable use of resources.  Yet too much of their catches is lost due to ignorance and lack of technical know-how of workers along the supply chain, from capture to retail distribution. These losses mean that families earn less money from fishing and selling fish and that consumers have fewer fish, and lower quality fish, to choose from.

A reduction in post-harvest fish losses can make a major contribution to satisfy this growing demand without making additional effort to increase fish production.

A workshop was held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in Dhaka to mark the close of the FAO project that aimed to reduce losses in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector.  Dr. Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, was chief guest. Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman, BARC, was special guest. The Chairperson was Ms. Quazi Shams Afroz, Director General, Department of Fisheries. Mr. Amal Krishna Mandal, Joint Secretary (UN wing chief), Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, also participated as a guest.

As well as the study to measure fish loss, another major component of the project was capacity development. With assistance from universities, a total of 340 field officials from the Department of Fisheries received training to train others to identify the causes of food loss in the capture fisheries value chain.

The officials then: 

•            Trained 1,275 stakeholders to reduce post-harvest fish loss in the capture fisheries supply chain.

•            Trained 200 stakeholders on improved fish handling using ice, how to develop market linkages, and better fish offal management.

•            Demonstrated sun-drying to 175 stakeholders.

•            Conducted post-harvest fish loss awareness campaigns at 20 fish markets.

With the assistance of the Department of Fisheries, the project provided beneficiaries with:  

•            536 large insulated ice boxes for fish preservation.

•            16 commercial-sized tank ice boxes for long distance transportation.

•            1,608 multipurpose crates for fish handling and processing.

•            175 large containers for dry fish storage.  

The equipment will have a direct and immediate impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of fishers, helping to reduce waste. Better informed and more knowledgeable officials will lead to better informed fishers, and the project analysis will inform future work that will reduce losses in the fisheries sector.