Delicious fresh-water fish, native to Bangladesh, and which were on the brink of extinction, have returned to the country’s haors (wetlands), beels, canals, rivers, ponds and other water bodies.  

Bangladesh is a country with a large number of rivers, haors, beels, canals,  ponds and other water bodies.

In these water bodies. native species of fish like carp, climbing Perch (Koi), Tilapia, Tyangra, Swamp barb (Puti), banded gourami (Kholshe), torrent catfish (Magur), Apocryptes Bato (Bele), Spotted snakehead (Taki), Mola Carplet (Mila), Parambassis Ranga (Chanda), and others are available which are full of protein.

And the country is notable for being a fish-loving nation, acquiring the name "Machh-e Bhat-e Bangali" which means, "Bengali by fish and rice".

Plenty of indigenous freshwater fish are being netted in different water bodies of the country in recent times as they have returned in abundance after a long gap, making fishermen happy and consumers elated.

According to fisheries experts, during the heavy rains in the floodplains, the fish grow rapidly due to the strong currents in the floods. Water produces a large number of plants, animals and insects. The fish gets a lot of food. That is why there is an abundance of fish.

Head of Department of Aquaculture of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Professor Md Sazzad Hossain told Bangladesh Post, "Migration of fishes during rain and floods helps them to increase in numbers.

If we can ensure safe fish migration and do not create any barriers in their ways, certainly we will get positive results. Rain and increase of water level help fish to spread in natural water bodies and enhance breeding".

Although the owners of some of the enclosures have been affected, the fish have become available to the general public as rains and floods helped fishes to spread in the open water bodies. The fishery resources of the open water have been enriched.

"To enhance fish production along with protecting natural breeding grounds, stop catching small fishes to preserve indigenous fish species, and the use of modern technologies are a must," said Md Sazzad.

Meanwhile, concerned officials said the recent conservation efforts of the government have resulted in an increased abundance of freshwater fish from the water bodies in all the country’s regions.

Thereby, plenty of fishes are found in and around the spawning ground areas indicating a positive sign for the country’s fish sector.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the people to protect the native species of fish from extinction coming out of the traditional fish farming methods by adopting advanced and modern systems.

There are some 475 species of marine fish and more than 250 varieties of freshwater fish in the country.

Realising the importance of the fisheries sector, the Awami League government has taken various effective and fruitful measures to protect the country's native fish and boost production.

As a result, fish production has increased by more than 50 percent in the last 11 years. Bangladesh has risen to the second position in the world in terms of the growth rate of freshwater fish production.

According to the department of fisheries, in the last five years, 534 fish sanctuaries have been set up in various rivers and inland open water bodies of the country through various development projects. Fish production in sanctuary-related water bodies has increased by 140 percent.

According to government data, the country’s fish production target was 40.50 lakh metric tons while the country had produced 41.34 lakh metric tons in 2016-17 fiscal year. If this trend of growth continues, it is expected that the country will achieve 45.52 lakh tonnes of fish production by 2020-21.

And now the country is self-sufficient in fish production. At present, people  are consuming 62.58 grams of fish against the daily demand of 60 grams per capita.

Aiming at a large-scale production of fishery resources, the government has taken several development programmes. Among them, excavating a pond or water body in all 4,300 unions under 464 upazilas in 61 districts is mentionable.

According to the fisheries officials, fish species like Pabda, Shrimp and Tengra will mainly be raised in newly-excavated water bodies with fish farmers being trained up with modern technologies and methods to boost production.

The government is implementing inclusive programmes for expanding fish cultivation in rural areas and providing assistance to fishermen, fish farmers and private sector entrepreneurs to increase fish production.