BANGLADESH - More than 20 species have been lost in the last decade and another 100 are on the endangered list.

Around 20 species of indigenous fish have become extinct over the last 10 years for use of current nets, insecticides and chemical fertilisers and depletion of habitats, researchers say.

Daily Star of Bangladesh reports that, if the trend continues, nearly 70 per cent of the local fish varieties may suffer the same fate in the next few years, they warn.

Around 100 out of 143 local fish species are in imminent danger of extinction, reveals a study conducted by Dr Mostafa Ali Reza Hossain, professor of fisheries biology and genetics at Bangladesh Agriculture University.

"Some will cease to exist even in the next two years unless measures for their conservation are taken immediately," observed Professor Mostafa Ali.

According ... Read more »

BANGLADESH - Inhabitants of the country's southwestern coastal region yesterday demanded that the government stop unplanned shrimp cultivation in the area to halt the illegal entrance of saline water into the region's natural water sources.

According to The Daily Star, they also urged the government not to lease out the region's water sources, especially ponds and canals.

Many people take such water bodies on lease in the name of paddy cultivation and use them for shrimp cultivation, thus violating the government condition that allows the lease out only for paddy cultivation, they said.

Some people, representing the dwellers of the different upazilas and districts in the southwestern region, made these remarks at a press conference titled 'Aggression of saline water vs the struggle for green economy' organised by Barcik, a non-government or ... Read more »

So that the supply of hilsa has already fallen abnormally in the local markets and consequently the prices have shot up in the markets.

At present per kilogram (kg) of hilsa is on sale between Tk 600 and Tk 700 in the local markets. But big size of hilsa is dearer in the markets.

Indiscriminate catching of hilsa fries (jatka) by using currant nets in the Meghna and Padma rivers are causing shortage of fishes in local markets, according to Chandpur Fisheries Department sources said.

Most of the fishermen have no valid license ... Read more »