Dear HLPE,
Please see below some of my comments based on Bangladesh situation. I would be glad to add more if it is worth.
(i) Women and food security: Over 11 % of total population engaged in fisheries and aquaculture and out of them about 10% are women in Bangladesh (DOF, 2013). Involvement of women is not always recognized and recorded well in Bangladesh.
(ii) In sectorial tradeoffs and food security: In Bangladesh, there are antagonistic relations between fisheries and non-fisheries sectors. For example, there was a court case lodged by an environmental NGO named BELA (Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association) against fisheries (DG, Secretary, Minister) for destroying forest, environment and livelihoods across coastal region by shrimp farming (Rfe:?) . In that case fisheries people fought in favor of thousands of coastal inhabitants farming fish and shrimp. In saline coastal region, none can do other farming except shrimp and fish due to salinity. Instead of real trade-off for food security, the Dept of Agriculture, Department of Forest, Department of Environment and Wader Development Board stood against fisheries farmers. The impact was farms were remain barren following lack of saline water access by Water Board, planted rice did not grow well because both land and water are saline, and thousands of shrimp farmers were accused and sued (Ref:?) for setting sluice gates in their shrimp farms.
(iii) Environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture: In many areas , fisheries and aquaculture are not getting due attention for development in the fear of Environmental sustainability. Farmers are being dictated to do something or stop something – which is not good for food security. Propaganda by some quarters having vested interest, food security has been threatened.
(iv) Fisheries and aquaculture interaction: Apart from use of fish meal, shrimp PL collection from wild sources, harvesting fry and juvenile (Hilsha) has important interactions affecting food security. Other interactions deserve attention are use of destructive gear (set-bag nets, fine meshed nets, poison fishing) and crafts including over fishing and/or over using fish and shrimp trawlers for marine capture. Such interactions have both short and long term food security implications for the resource users.
With best regards,
Md. Nuruzzaman
Mohammad Nuruzzaman