EFFECTS OF SMALL SCALE SALINE WATER DEVELOPMENT SUBPROJECTS ON FISHERIES IN KHULNA DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project (SSWRDSP), with the aim of flood control, drainage and irrigation has been introduced during 1996-2002 in Bangladesh by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of ministry of local government and rural development. This study was undertaken for assessing the impacts of saline water subprojects on fisheries production. The study was carried out in two saline water subprojects in Khulna district based on primary and secondary data. The primary data was taken through Focus Group Discussion. Different indicators viz. fisheries area, fish species, fish production and fishers were used to evaluate the impacts of the subprojects on fisheries development. The year 1999 has been considered as the pre-project and 2004 as the post-project study period. Both the diversity and production of open water capture fishery have been decreased in the subprojects area. Different fish species have become rare in all the subprojects. However, the culture fishery has increased due to implementation of the project. The capture fishery in the Bagachra-Badurgacha Flood Control and Drainage (FCD) subproject area has totally been lost but the production of culture fishery has increased by 13%. In Narayankhali FCD subproject the production of capture fishery has been decreased by 87.8% while the production of culture fishery has increased by 7.10%. The number of fish farmers has increased but the number of fishers has declined in all the subproject areas. Some suggestions regarding the development of culture fishery and protection of capture fishery have been suggested.