Dr. Md. Abdus Salam Professor, Department of Aquaculture

Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh, Bangladeshmasalambau@gmail.com

Impact of Climate Change on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture in Bangladesh: Adaptation Measures need to be taken

BENJapan Teleconference/ Webinar on Environmental Aspects

WEA15 : 3 September 2011, Saturdaywww.benjapan.org/wea

Out line of the presentation

Background-coastal and inland Materials and Methods Out comes Conclusion and Measures need to be taken

Background

Bangladesh is the biggest deltaic country in the world

The country has world’s largest continuous mangrove forest the “Sundarbans”

The country also has the widest longest sea beach at Cox’s bazar”

Most of the landmass of the country is in between 1-10m MSL

The economy of the country based on agriculture and related activities

IPCC estimated global temp would rise 1.8 – 4.0oC and Sea level 9 to 88 cm by the year 2100

With the CC and estimated SLR, 1/6 of Bangladesh low laying land may go under water

The Sundarbans mangrove forest and other coastal wetland would disappear

Flood and cyclone intensity will increase tremendously

Storm surge may go 7.4 to 9.1 m with 1 m SLR

Background (cont.)

Background (cont.)

Millions of CC refugees will migrate in near by town and high land areas

SIDR in Nov 2007 and AILA in May 2009 destroyed the whole coastal region

Most of the embankments and roads have destroyed

Tidal force do not allow them repair or rebuild yet

People in the areas are leading miserable life with the tidal water

Breeding and feeding ground and habitat of freshwater fishes have reduced a lot

Background (cont.)

This presentation is about CC impact on inland fisheries and Aquaculture

Bangladesh is a riverine country crisscrossed by 700 large and small rivers

Fish and fisheries resources play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the country

The sector contributes 63% animal protein, 5.3% to GDP and 12% of the total foreign exchange earnings

Background (cont.)

10% people including 1.3 million full time fishers are dependent on fisheries for their livelihoods

However, climate change is directly or indirectly affecting fishery production

Fish reproduction, growth and migration patterns are affected by temperature, rainfall and hydrology

It has adversely affected both fresh water and marine fisheries of Bangladesh

Impact of CC on Fisheries and AquacultureLess rain fall

Background (cont.)

Low water, increased

fishing pressure

FluctuatingRain, less fish growth

Lost aquatic biodiversityFish don’t

breed

High Temp., dries up water

bodies

To know the impact on hatchery and nursery operation and aquaculture and fisheries activities

To know the socio-economic impacts on hatchery, nursery and aquaculture operations and on the fishing communities; and

To find out the adaptive measures for sustainable aquaculture production and fish harvesting from the nature

The overall objectives of this study was to assess the CC impact on fisheries and aquaculture activities and livelihood of the stakeholders

Hence the specific objectives were:

Objectives

Materials and Methods

Selection of study area

River Basin of Bangladesh

Target Groups and sampling procedure for fisheries activities

Sl. No. District Upazila Sample size FGD

01 Rajshahi Bagmara 10 3

02 Naowgaon Manda 10 3

03 Natore Gurudaspur 10 3

Target Groups and sampling procedure for fish farming activities

Sl. No.

Types of fish farming

Trishal (sample size)

Bhaluka(sample size)

Muktagacha(sample size)

FGD (No)

04 Fish farmers 15 15 15 3

05 Hatchery owners 5 5 5 3

06 Nursery owners 5 5 5 3

Materials and Methods (cont.)

Results and DiscussionFish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Criteria Trishal Valuka Muktagacha

Type of fish farms

Pangus 73.33 53.33 46.66

Carps 13.33 20.00 6.66

Tilapia 6.66 13.33 13.33

Cat fishes 0.00 13.33 13.33

Thai Koi (perch) 6.66 0.00 20.00

Native fishes 0.00 0.00 0.00

Size of farms (dec.)

< 400 26.66 20.00 26.66

400 to 800 26.66 40.00 33.33

800 to 1200 40.00 33.33 33.33

> 1200 6.66 6.66 6.66

Year of established

< 5 20.00 26.66 33.33

5 to 10 53.33 33.33 33.33

10 to 15 26.66 33.33 20.00

> 15 0.00 6.66 3.33

Types of Fish farm, size and year of establishment

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

High temp. hampered fish farming in Mymensingh region (%)

Fluctuating temp. and rain hampered hatchery and nursery operation (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Fluctuating temp. and rain hampered hatchery and nursery operation (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Farm management cost increased due to climate change

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Fish mortality increased due to climate change

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Perception of weather change by the stakeholders

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fish farming, Hatchery & Nursery component

Coping strategies adopted by fish farmers

Water availability in the beels before 10 yrs and at present (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Water availability in the Rivers before 10 yrs and at present (value in %)

No. of fish species caught before 10yrs and at present(value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Factors affecting abundance of fish in natural water bodies

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Reason behind less number of fish caught (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

19771977 19901990 20002000

Change of water coursesChange of water courses

Shengrail river, Dumuria, KhulnaShengrail river, Dumuria, Khulna

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

19771977 19901990 20002000

Change of water coursesChange of water courses

Bharda river, Batiaghata, KhulnaBharda river, Batiaghata, Khulna

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Biological activities affected by fluctuating weather (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Late rain in previous year hampered fish production in following season (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Fish susceptible to disease due to climate change (value in %)

Results and Discussion (cont.)Fisheries component

Coping strategy to overcome the problems by fishermen

The study has identified that the fish farming, hatchery and nursery operation in all three locations are moderately affected by climate change

It is really a challenge for the fish farming communities to cope with the changing situation

Fluctuating rain and temperature and prolong drought are the main causes of fish decline in northwestern region of Bangladesh

The changing environment made the fisher communities livelihood vulnerable

Greater understanding of climate change consequences is needed to boost up aquaculture and fisheries production in the country

Conclusion

Measures need to be taken

Integrate aquaculture with agriculture for food security and high value food

Create sanctuaries to protect the indigenous fish biodiversity and safe guard the fishing communities

Increase income through alternative livelihoods like backyard vegetable gardening and nurseries

Small scale “Backyard Aquaponics” could be another means of alternative livelihoods for the poor communities

Govt., NGOs, national and international donor agencies should come forward to help the fish farming and fisheries stakeholders as they are not any way responsible for climate change

Contact information

Dr. Md. Abdus Salam Professor, Dept. of Aquaculture

Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202 Bangladesh

+880 171 102 4408masalambau@gmail.com