The abundance of native fish that Shayestaganj in Habiganj district once saw in its rivers, canals and beels during and after the monsoon has dwindled to less than a quarter of what it was, according to residents. Even at the height of the season, fishermen and ordinary households are finding little, and many fishermen have put their nets away because the catch no longer justifies the effort.

Locals attribute the decline to the filling-in of natural water bodies, excessive pesticide use, illegal harvesting of fry and fingerlings, and the indiscriminate use of current nets and duari traps. Climate change compounds it: with rain arriving late, drought and high temperatures, rivers, canals and beels do not fill enough for fish to breed normally.

Abdul Karim, 68, a Shayestaganj resident, said that in earlier years a net cast in the monsoon would bring up all kinds of native fish, whereas now hours of effort yield nothing. Fisherman Md Rahim Mia, 55, said he once supported his family by fishing alone; now the catch does not even cover the cost of casting the net.

Fish sellers say the markets are supplied mostly by farmed fish, and that with native fish scarce their price is comparatively high, so many lower- and middle-income families cannot buy them regularly. Residents are calling for the protection of rivers, canals and beels as breeding and feeding grounds, an end to illegal nets, and strict surveillance and drives during the breeding season.

Officials of the local fisheries department said programmes are being taken up to raise native fish production and to protect breeding in natural water bodies, and that drives against fishing with illegal nets, and the destruction of seized nets, are continuing.

Based on reporting by Manab Zamin's Shayestaganj (Habiganj) correspondent. Source: Manab Zamin