GLOBAL - Methane is an organic carbon compound containing the fundamental building block of nearly all living material: carbon. It provides an important source of energy and nutrients for bacteria. Methane is produced in oxygen-free environments and is found in abundance at the bottom of lakes.

BANGLADESH - Construction of a high-tech laboratory has started in Savar to test for chemical contamination in fish and fishery products before they are exported to countries like Japan and those of the European Union.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas laid the foundation stone for 'Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Laboratory, Dhaka' beside the site for Livestock Research Institute.

Local lawmaker Talukder Mohammad Towhid Jang Murad, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Bikash Dutta and Director General of Fisheries Directorate Syed Arif Azad were present at the ceremony.

The laboratory is being constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 125 million under a Fisheries Directorate project titled 'Strengthening Fishery and Aquaculture Food Safety and Quality Management System in Bangladesh'.

Speaking at the ... Read more »

BANGLADESH - More than 0.2 million shrimp cultivators of southwestern region are in frustration due to sharp fall in price of produced shrimp in the local market.

Shrimp is now being sold at Tk. 400-500 per kg in place of Tk. 900-1000 even in last one a and half month ago.

The shrimp farmers allege that this situation has been created by a dishonest syndicate of shrimp processing units and exporters. But the exporters said that price has been fallen in the international market due to global economic recession. As a result the target of export of frozen foods would not be achieved.

Cultivators sources said a virus affected the shrimp farms in southwestern region from the beginning of this season. Moreover, production co ... Read more »

Young crocodiles in the tank

Crocodile is a reptilian animal. It is found almost all over the world except Europe. Crocodiles were originated about 17.5 crore years ago and it has been a part of biodiversity in different geographical location through out the world (Mazid and Hossain. 2004.). There are 23 crocodilian species under 3 families are found in the world.

Since, crocodile is the most aggressive and ferocious animal, earning of foreign currency through its commercial farming is undoubtedly a quite exce ... Read more »

Variety of fish feed ingredients are available in Bangladesh. A major portion of this ingredients are obtained from different plants. Different parts of plant body are used as fish feed. Plant origin feed ingredients are comparatively cheaper than animal origin fish feed ingredients like fish meal, bone meal etc. and also contains less protein than those animal origin ingredients. However considering the economic capability of most of the fish farmers in Bangladesh, plant origin feeds ingredients are considered suitable for aquaculture.

Some common ingredients:
Some common fish feed ingredients which are originated from plant sources are- Maize bran, Suji, Rice flour, Rice bran, Rice polish, Wheat flour, Wheat bran, Sesame oil cake, Soybean grits, Mustard oil cake, Coconut oil cake, Lentil bran, Molasses etc.

Most of the plant origin f ... Read more »

Bangladesh is world’s one of the largest delta of three major river system i.e. the Ganga, the Jamuna and the Brahmaputra. Water resources are considered as bless of the Almighty for Bangladesh. There is enough land with all essential physico-chemical parameters available for agricultural activities especially for aquaculture. Though Bangladesh is densely populated, the demand of animal protein is high. So, demand of fish is increasing day by day because about 58% of total animal protein is contributed from fish (Ref). Without ensuring a good aquaculture production, it is not possible to meet the demand of protein of people. Fish production can only be the sustainable sources to deduct malnutrition. People of Bangladesh are fond of fish as their first choice of animal protein food. To fulfill the demand and expectation of people, aquaculture practices have to be expanded.

... Read more »

BANGLADESH - A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the WorldFish Center and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) for persuasion of joint activities for the growth of sustainable aquaculture, reports BSS.

Under this MoU, joint promotional activities including holding meetings, dialogues, conferences, research, demonstrations and advocacy initiatives, would be made to develop natural fishes and shrimp seed conservation in Bangladesh, reports FinancialExpress.

Detector general of WorldFish Center Dr Stephen J. Hall and BSFF Chairman Syed Mahmudul Huq signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Prime Minister's Economic Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman attended the signing ceremony as the chief guest while Principal Secretar ... Read more »

Md. Ameer Sheikh is an inhabitant of Purba Gangabardi village of Faridpur

Md. Ameer Sheikh, son of Late Sheikh Kazem is an inhabitant of Purba Gangabardi village of Faridpur Sadar Upazila of Faridpur district. At the beginning he pulled rickshaw for 15 years then started a partnership business 12 ... Read more »

How does artificial light affect the growth of fish? To clarify this mechanism, it is important to mention the common endocrine mechanism in fish.  The environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, photoperiod, water current stimulate the hypothalamus of fish to synthesis gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), consequently triggers the pituitary to synthesis gonadotropin hormone (GTH). GTH then stimulates the gonad to mature by synthesizing gonadal hormone. This is also called brain-hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis (B-P-G). To do this mechanism, fish needs energy; ultimately energy is partitioned for maturation rather than growth. It is widely accepted technique in aquaculture to improve growth of fish by producing sterile fish such as hybrid, triploid etc. This sort of genetic manipulation is not only expensive but also species specific. Considering this point environmental manipulation is more useful to ... Read more »

BANGLADESH - Thousands of people have been left food insecure after extensive flooding, landslides and flash floods in eastern Bangladesh at the end of June. Crops and seed stocks have been badly damaged and it will be three to four months before farmers are able to replant.

"We need to support the villagers now or we will face serious food shortages in the region soon,” Matiur Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, (BDRCS) told IRIN. "Until the next harvest we need to support the communities with cash and seedlings.”

Fazlul Haque, Joint Secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Division (DMRD), said the loss of rice paddies and livestock in the floods had badly shaken the livelihoods of millions who depend on agriculture.

The government estimates that more than 1,00 ... Read more »