M A Wahab, S H Thilsted & A Milstein

outlines

• small fish resources• current practices in aquaculture • small fish & importance• pro-poor technologies• habits suitable for small fishes• challenges of access to nutrient-rich small fish• suggestions for nutrient-rich fish production

Bangladesh, within the delta of three large rivers - the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna, enjoys sub-tropical climate

Rich in aquatic biodiversity

The inland fishery of Bangladesh ranks 3rd largest in Asia after China and India

Fish production in Bangladesh has reached 3.26 million mt

Order Family Genus Species

Anguiliformes 5 6 8

Osteoglossiformes 1 2 2

Elopiformes 1 1 1

Clupeiformes 3 12 17

Cypriniformes 4 35 87

Siluriformes 13 36 59

Cyprinodontiformes 1 1 1

Syngnathiformes 1 2 3

Synbranchiformes 2 4 6

Perciformes 14 46 61

Beloniformes 3 5 7

Pleuronectiformes 3 4 7

Tetraodontiformes 1 2 3

Total = 13 52 156 262

major carpsmajor carps – rohu, catla, mrigal – rohu, catla, mrigal

exotic carpsexotic carps – common (koi), silver, bighead, grass – common (koi), silver, bighead, grass

catfish catfish - thai pangus (E), magur, shing- thai pangus (E), magur, shing

barbs barbs – thai silver barb (E)– thai silver barb (E)

perchperch – thai koi (E) – thai koi (E)

crustaceancrustacean – shrimp, prawn – shrimp, prawn

Carp polyculture Carp polyculture with f/w prawn Integrated rice – fish / f/w prawnCulture of Thai pangas Tilapia Culture Cage and pen cultureAir-breathing fish culture (catfish & Koi)Shrimp and f/w prawn culture

Only fewer species cultured Fish meal required in fish feed May affect environment Invasive exotics? HH nutrition often ignored Malnutrition severe among young children& women

Focus on nutrient - rich fish production

Screen out all fish for higher nutrient contents

Include nutrient-rich small fish in polyculture

Develop pro-poor technologies to ensure HH nutrition

Increase consumption of small fish by women & young children

Build awareness & advocacy for conservation of biodiversity

Promote community based management & stock enhancement

provide food, nutrition and income to rural people & fishermen

high nutritional value- rich in vitamin A, calcium, iron & zinc

self recruit species, breeds several times in a year- no hatchery

suitable for polyculture with carps & f/w prawn in ponds/rice-fields

forage on natural food-suitable for green water aquaculture

effective in reducing malnutrition in women & young children

Thilsted et al. 1997Thilsted et al. 1997

Loss of natural habitats Over-exploitation Use of monofilament nets (current jal) Water abstraction for irrigation Excess application of agro-chemicals Pollution from industrial effluents Outbreaks of ulcer diseases Siltation of rivers & natural water-bodies

To restore fish habitats

To establish of fish sanctuaries in rivers/beels/haors

To establish of fish pass, FFS to allow free movement

To stock floodplains & natural water-bodies with nutrient-rich fish

To promote CBFM & develop policy support

Re-excavation of silted haor, baor, beels and scour holes in the rivers

Provision of patchy growth of aquatic vascular plants in the natural water bodies

Creation of micro-habitats – species specific eg., bamboo pieces for eels and catfishes

Re-plantation of flood tolerant trees like – hizol, koroch, tomal, sheora, swamp forest & reeds along the edges of water-bodies

Carp-mola polyculture

Mola-punti-carp polyculture

Carp-prawn-mola culture

Carp-mola-prawn culture in rice fields (concurrent & rotational)

Improved mola processing and cooking

Dried and canned value-added mola

Repeated partial Repeated partial harvesting of small fishharvesting of small fish

Mola 12,500 ha-1

Punti 12,500 ha-1

Rohu 3,300 ha-1

Catla 3,300 ha-1

Common carp 3,400 ha-1

Silver carp 300 ha-1

SIS production 400 kg ha-1 yr-1

Large fish production 2600 kg ha-1 yr-1

Freshwater prawn, 20,000 ha-1

Catla 2,500 ha-1

Mola 20,000 ha-1

All male prawn grow better

concurrent rice-fish culture systems

Production 3,240 kg ha-1 yr-1

Freshwater prawn, 20,000 ha-1

Catla - 1,750 ha-1

Rohu - 1,750 ha-1

Mola - 20,000 ha-1

All male prawn grow better

alternate rice - fish culture systems

Production 4,280 kg ha-1 yr-1

Small fish exerts no negative impacts on carps in polyculture

Partial harvesting of SIS at regular intervals increase total yield

Ponds & ponds connected to rice-fields are suitable for mola, punti & darkina

In rotation with rice 4,280 kg/ha/8 mo in catla- prawn- mola

Mola consumption increased if added in HH ponds

Extension agencies of GO and NGOs are promoting small fish

Quality dried & canned pickle mola can be produced

Major challenges for sustainable production

to meet the need for micronutrient-rich small fish:• Inadequate knowledge on the nutrient contents fishes• Insufficient knowledge on small biology• Shortage of quality seed for aquaculture & stocking• Land and water use conflicts• Excess use of agro-chemicals crop fields• Weakness in the implementation of fish act• Lack of alternative income generation for the fishermen• Lack of awareness among various stakeholders, and • Uncertainty of climate changes

all rural HH ponds to be stocked with small fish along with carps

small HH ponds to be connected with adjacent rice-fields

rice-fish with crop rotation or concurrent methods to be adopted

1 m water to be kept in dry season in beels & similar water-bodies

mola, dhela, darkina and nutrient-rich small fish to be restocked

partial harvest of SIS helps increased production & consumption

carp-mola, cap-mola-prawn in ponds or rice-field connected to be disseminated

training programs for all GO and NGO extension officials needed

Mostafa A R Hossain

Nanna Roos

M. Enamul Hoq

DANIDA

USAID – CDR

WorldFish

Thank you allThank you all