Option for formulating community based fish sanctuary and its management in beel ecosystem in Brahmanbaria

Abstract

With the objective of formulating community based fish sanctuaries in beel ecosystem based on the experiences of traditional fish aggregating devices (FAD), like katha and kua, this study was undertaken in three beels viz., Shakla, Hurul and Shapla located in Brahmanbaria. Results show that surface area coverage for katha ranged between 25 and 60 dec. Two harvests were found to be common, may exceed to three harvests depending on the hydrological condition of beel. Fish production was recorded higher to be the first harvest that decreased chronologically in the second and third harvests. The area of kua ranged from 5 to 100 dec. Fish production of first harvest was almost double than that of the second harvest. None of the owners of kua were the member of beel management committee (BMC) but they owned land. Kua fisheries are not favorable for sustaining yields because all fish including brood stocks and juveniles are harvested completely at a time by dewatering. Moreover, the owners of the kua along the canals have a tendency to encroach khas land while excavating kua. Conflicts also prevailed between the kua owners and the BMC. For the sustainability of CBFM concept in the beel fishery rigorous motivation works needed for the kua owners to bring them under the umbrella of BMC. Based on the results of the FAD an outline of the fish sanctuary and improved management guidelines are put forwarded for beel ecosystem