The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Barguna

Different species of sweet water fishes have been declining in the district over the last few years for various reasons, said a survey report.

The reasons like gradual drying up of water bodies, non-excavation of ponds, uses of current nets and application of chemical fertilisers on croplands were responsible for polluting the breeding grounds of sweet water fishes.

A survey conducted by the fisheries department showed that fish production has declined by 40 percent in the district during the last 10 years.

The report blamed the destruction of water bodies, ponds and beels that are the prime ground of fish production. The scarcity of fish is not only responsible for exorbitant prices of fish but also depriving the common people from protein.

A fisherman told this correspondent that the daily supply of fishes to the local wholesale markets was about 100 mounds about five years ago which now came down at half of that level.

In the past there were adequate supply of local species of fish such as koi, magur, shing, kalibous, boal, sarputi, etc in the fish market. But at present, the volume of supply has come down considerably, the fisherman said.

Indiscriminate uses of current nets during the breeding season, he said, is one of the main reasons for gradual decreasing of fish resources in the rivers and other water bodies.

Besides, application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides on crop lands on a large scale contributed for disappearance of the local species.