Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, Minister for Fisheries and Livestock and for Agriculture, has urged that exports be increased by strictly ensuring quality in fish production.

He said the world's bigger concern now is not a shortage of food but demand for safe, quality food. Bangladesh too must ensure safe, high-quality fish production, with quality control and set standards strictly followed at every stage, in order to raise exports.

The minister was speaking as chief guest on 17 August at a seminar titled "Fisheries Resources in Building a Self-Reliant Bangladesh: Current Context and Future Actions". The seminar, organised by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), was held at the seminar hall of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in Farmgate, Dhaka.

"We must decide what to do by keeping in view the problems fish face today, the prospects ahead, people's demand and the demand for quality fish in international markets," he said. "If we identify the problems and solve them on a priority basis, we can move forward quickly."

Amin Ur Rashid said enough sanctuaries must be ensured to increase natural breeding and production of fish. The government has already taken several steps on this and has begun work on fish conservation.

He said excessive use of pesticides and fertiliser in farming, among other environmental pressures, is hampering natural fish production and breeding. To overcome this, production must move to environmentally friendly, modern methods, and modern technology should be used to produce more fish in limited space.

Highlighting the prospects for Bangladeshi fish products abroad, the minister said the country's freshwater fish have a large market among expatriate Bangladeshis, who live in large numbers in many countries, and exports can grow by tapping that demand. But to earn foreign currency in international markets, production must also focus on the tastes and demand of people in the importing countries, not only on the fish Bangladeshis eat.

Referring to the export potential of shrimp, crab, mud eel (kuchia) and other aquatic animals, he said fry and breeding systems must be improved along with production. If fry can be produced and reared artificially with modern technology, production and exports in this sector could multiply.

He stressed coordination between quality, food safety, environmental protection, modern technology, research and international market demand in fish production, and said effective advice from scientists, researchers and professionals would help the government.

Speaking as special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said a suitable environment for fish to grow and breed must be ensured to increase production. Encroachment on rivers and canals, loss of navigability and water pollution from industrial waste are disrupting the natural movement and breeding grounds of fish.

To restore fish habitats, he said, the navigability of rivers and canals must be maintained and the links between canals and rivers restored. The late President Ziaur Rahman had taken steps to restore river navigability and re-excavate canals. After a long pause, the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has again taken up re-excavation of canals and rivers, and digging has already taken place in various areas. If the plan to re-excavate about 20,000 km of canals and rivers is carried out, a suitable environment for fish breeding and movement will be created, he said.

Expressing concern at the unregulated use of antibiotics in fish farming, he said unnecessary antibiotic use is causing farmers financial losses while putting food safety at risk. District-level seminars and workshops will be organised to make farmers aware of the issue.

BFRI Director General Dr Md Latiful Islam presided, and BFRI senior scientific officer Dr Md Moshiur Rahman presented the keynote paper. Also present were Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak, Department of Livestock Services Director General Md Shahjaman Khan, senior ministry officials, university teachers and BFRI scientists.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.