NewAge . Narail, May 21, 2009
Indigenous fish species are on the verge of extinction in Narail because of siltation of rivers, their tributaries and different water bodies.
Few years back, various species of fish were found aplainty in the rivers Chitra, Nabaganga, Modhumoti, Afra, Kazla and different water bodies including haors, canals and beels.
But the scenario has changed as fishermen no longer can net as much fish as they could in the recent past, locals said.
Livelihood of fishermen in the district has been threatened.
Local people now depend on only shrimp produced in enclosures to meet their protein demand.
The indigenous fish species facing extinction are ruhit, katla, chitol, puti, taki, tengra, shoil, gojar, boal, chanda, sharputi and bain.
A good number of fishermen have already changed their profession because of scarcity of indigenous fish species.
The fishermen, who are yet to switch over to other professions, are leading a miserable life, local sources said.
Taimur, a fisherman has become a day labourer. He said ‘If I remaind with fishing profession, my family had to pass days in starvation’.
District fisheries department sources said breeding fields of indigenous species have drastically reduced in the district because of siltation of rivers, their tributaries and water bodies.
The water bodies are important not only for fish production but also for generating employment for many people, the lovals said.
They blamed over-fishing, environmental degradation like siltation and pollution of water bodies for use of fertiliser and pesticides, and lack of fish sanctuaries for the gradual extinction of indigenous fish species.
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