5CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCESCLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

The book is published by Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) in favar of Climate Change Cell of Bangladesh Government.

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

Printing , 2009

ContactClimate Change Cell Room 514, Paribesh BhabhanE-16, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, BangladeshPhone: (880-2) 9111379 Extension 147; 0666 2301 021E-mail: info@climatechangecell-bd.orgWebsite: http://www.climatechangecell-bd.org

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

Fisheries Resources of Bangladesh

The fisheries sector plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of our country by creating employment opportunities, earning valuable foreign currencies, fulfilling nutritional requirements of the increased population and improving the environment, while also playing a significant role in poverty alleviation.

The inland open water area of Bangladesh is approximately 40 lakh 47 hectares, the closed water area is approx. 5 lakh $ 28 thousands hectare and the border area of marine water is 1 lakh 66 thousands square km (Department of Fisheries, 2007). About 1 crore and 30 lakh people of this country directly or indirectly depend on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods. Of these, about 12 lakh people are directly Dependent on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods. 60% of the animal protein comes from fish in Bangladesh. Additionally, 6% of the total export earnings and 5% of the total national earnings come from the fisheries sector. For the last 5 years, the average economic growth rate of this sector was about 6%.

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

Serious adverse impacts are being observed on the natural environment due to climate change and Bangladesh is one of the worst affected countries. Bangladesh is rated as one of the most vulnerable due to its geographical position, low plain land, over-population, weak infrastructure, poverty and high dependency on natural resources. All the sectors of Bangladesh will be hampered to some extent by climate change. Human welfare related service sectors meant for public welfare, particularly the infrastructure, health, habitat, agriculture, fisheries including natural environment will be hampered, which will obstruct our ongoing socio-economic development process.

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Impacts of climate changeThe 4th research report of IPCC (2007) observes several adverse impacts of climate change ; the ones significant to Bangladesh are:

Increased temperature

Over flood, excessive rainfall or untimely rainfall

Increased drought duration

Sea-level rise

Penetration of saline water

Increased effect/virulence of storm and tidal surge

Climate change and Fisheries resourcesThe fisheries resources of Bangladesh can be divided into three categories : 1. Closed water bodies 2. Inland open water bodies and 3. Marine fisheries resources

Closed water : Pond, gher and baor are considered as closed water bodies, as they are not usually breached by the regular seasonal floods. Different types of fish and shrimp are cultured in closed water bodies. There are 1.3 million ponds in Bangladesh, which cover an area of 0.147 million hectares. Baors (a body of water formed when a wide meander from the mainstream of a river is cut off to create a lake) cover 5,488 hectares and shrimp ghers in coastal areas 0.110 million hectares. Livelihoods of thousands of families are at least partially dependent on closed water fisheries.

Inland open water : Inland open water consists of all freshwater bodies other than the closed ones (e.g. river, haor, beel, khal/canal and seasonal floodplain). During the monsoon, all of them connect together to form a vast single water body that provides fish their breeding, nursery and wandering ground. The total area of open water bodies in Bangladesh is 4.47 hectares, providing a habitat for 260 species of fish and 24 species of prawn. Millions of poor fishers of the country earn their livelihoods by fishing in the open water bodies.

Marine fisheries resources : Bangladesh owns 0.166 square kilometers of sea-jurisdiction. Three of the largest rivers of Asia - the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, flowing over a wide-spread area, carry huge sediment-loads before falling into the Bay of Bengal. For this reason, the coastal areas of Bangladesh are highly fertile and rich in diverse fish resources.

The fisheries resources of the country are being disturbed by numerous natural and human activities leading to the extinction of different fish species and decreasing their production. According to IUCN research, 54 species of fresh water fish are endangered in Bangladesh. Climate change will make fisheries resources more vulnerable and will accelerate the degradation. This booklet highlights probable impacts of climate change on these three types of fisheries resources of Bangladesh and proposes actions to help adapt to the changed circumstances.

4CC Impacts and adaptation measures for fish culture in closed water bodies

Due to increased temperature Adaptation measures

Due to excess rain and floods Adaptation measures

Problems can arise in fry production in hatcheries, which will create difficulty in fry availability

Pond fish enter the open water system Set up net/bana/fence surrounding the bank of the pond, so that fish cannot get out/in

Stock fish fry in the pond after passing probable timing of flooding

Culture fast growing fish species thus avoiding the rainy season

Catch the fish earlier if over flooding is likely to occur

Rear the fish in hapa or culture fish in cages during vulnerable periods

Catch unwanted fish through netting and introduce a small amount of lime to the ponds

Predatory and other fish can enter the ponds

Waste may enter the ponds and pollute them

Cultured exotic fish from ponds may spread

Increased virulence of disease-microbes can cause fish epidemics in the ponds

Occurrence of excessive phytoplankton layers in pond water can cause water pollution

Increased mortality rates of shrimp fry if water temperature is more than 320C (CEGIS)

New fish diseases may evolve

Accelerated organic decomposition in ponds/ghers can cause scarcity of oxygen; blocked respiration will result in a fish-epidemic

Re-schedule the reproductive season or keep the water of hatcheries at a low temperature

Keep the water temperature at a tolerable level and pulling horra through the water to make the pond free from polluted gas

Bring changes in the fish-culturing season

Make sheds using hyacinth so that fish can take shelter during hot whether

Arrange aerators in the water, if possible

Culture high temperature tolerant fish

5Due to increased virulence of drought Adaptation measures

Increase pond depth

Change the cultivation season

Supply water to ponds from tube-wells or other sources

Culture fast growing fish e.g. tilapia, sarputi

Culture fish resistant to unfavorable conditions e.g. shing, magur, koi.

Culture dhaincha (jute-like fibrous plant) and mix it with the soils when matured; this increases the water holding capacity of the pond

Ponds may dry up or water may become scarce

Excessive increase of pond water may cause fish-death

Increased density may kill fish

Fish diseases may occur

Fish may experience obstructions to their normal biological process

Adaptation measures

Due to increases in sea surface level/height

In the coastal area, shrimp ghers and fish ponds may overflow or their sides may collapse

Carp fish culture may be hindered due to increased salinity in the fresh water ponds

Shrimp cultivation will increase inland which is a threat to the environment.

Strengthen the sides of shrimp-ghers and ponds

Culture marine fish species (vetki, bata, tengra), crab and shrimp in cages

Culture Rui fish in the rainy season with shrimps in ponds/ghers when salinity is lower

Ensure fry supply of shrimp, vetki, bata, tengra etc. by artificial breeding in coastal areas

Adaptation measures

Due to saline water penetration

Culturing fish will be disturbedGrowth of fresh water fish will be hamperedWater quality of ponds/ghers may deteriorateRui fish farms and hatcheries, established in coastal areas, will be damagedVegetables and trees grown on the banks of pond may die

Culture saline water tolerant fish (e.g. bata, vetki, tengra), shrimps and crabsCulture Rui fish in the rainy season with shrimps in ponds/ghers when salinity is lowerGrow Aman in shrimp-ghers; waters should be changed at regular intervalsTrain fish farmers on the culturing of marine fish species/saline water fish, shrimps, and crabs and provide the necessary materials and technical assistance.

Due to increased virulence of tidal surges

Stocked fish may get out in the case of overflow

Sell fish if possible immediately after receiving signals of cyclonesRe-schedule the fish culture season to adjust to the probable timing of tidal surge

Increase the height of pond-banks

Train fish farmers on strategies to cope with tidal surges

Tie-up the cages more strongly in case of cage fish culturePlant trees on the banks of the ponds which don't break easily; stems and branches should be regularly cut

Salinity intrusion may kill fish or restrict their growth

Waste may enter and pollute the ponds

Pond depth may decrease due to murky or sand-loaded water entering the ponds; broken trees falling on the pond may also pollute the water

Adaptation measures

Impacts and actions for open water fishThe impact of climate change on open water can be divided into three categories : 1. Impact on water bodies 2. Impact on fish and 3. Impact on fishers

1. Impact on water bodies Adaptation measures

Many of the water bodies may get

Some of the fish species may shift their

The balance in native aquatic biodiversity may be disturbed by exotic and predatory fish when ponds are over flooded

Make bana or fence the pond to prevent exotic and predatory fish from entering open water bodies

Educate the fish farmers, on the impacts of cultured exotic/harmful fish reaching the open water bodies from their pondsInform the fishers on the changing climate and seasonal shifts.

The fish harvesting season may change

The effectiveness of some of the fishing gears may be reduced

The production of some species may increase due to the increased roaming area of fishThe aquatic environment may change

Realistic measures should be undertaken based on the research on the impacts of a temperature rise on particular species

Fishers should be informed about the changes of fishing grounds and take action to protect them

Fishers should be made more responsible by informing them of the results of the research.

Species diversity may be reduced if fish-reproductive and migration period changesFishing grounds may changeContagion/infection of fish diseases may increaseOverall fish production may declineFish growth may accelerate due to moderate increases of temperature

Re-excavate the water body

Re-establish the connection between rivers and beels by excavating canals

Conserve kum/doar situated in the riverTake measures to store water in these lands during the dry season

Grow crops that require less water in the wetlands during the Rabi season.

Source mouth of the river may dry up

River flow may change

Rivers and the connecting canals may get sediment-loaded

Water bodies may change in shape, area and type.

2. Impact on fish

Due to increased temperature Adaptation measures

Due to over flood Adaptation measures

Due to increased virulence of drought

Beel, river and canal water may dry up

Adaptation measures

Create fish sanctuaries by excavating the beels, canals and rivers for the protection of fish stocks in the dry season

Due to increased sea surface level/height

Damage to the mangrove forest will shrink the breeding and nursery grounds of various species of fish, shrimp and crab hampering the fish production Hilsa and shrimp breeding grounds and migration patterns may changeAvailability of saline water fish may increase

Production of fresh water fish may reduce and some of the species may become extinct

Release the fry of endangered fish species in the endangered/greatly critical water bodiesRestrict fishing in the breeding season to protect fish breeding groundsProhibit fishing with harmful netsArrange alternate irrigation sources during the Rabi seasonIdentify endangered/critical fish habitats for the dry season to protect them

Shelter for fish will decrease during the dry period

Mother fish will declineSome fish species may become extinct or their habitat may shiftConversion of beels, khals and rivers into agricultural lands will squeeze the habitat for fishAs a whole, natural and fishing mortality will increase; as a result, species diversity and production will decrease

Adaptation measures

Research the impact of increased sea-levels on hilsa fish and shrimps

Conduct research on fresh water fish to find steps to be taken to address the changed situationMake amendments to fish conservation lawsProtect mangrove forests and create new ones

Species diversity will change in the coastal areas. Numbers of fresh water fish species will decrease and saline/brackish water fish will increase

Sanctuaries established in different water bodies of the country may get disturbed

Fishers' dwelling places and cultivable land may be damaged

Improve the dwelling place of fishers

Establish tube-wells and sanitary latrines in a secure place

Train fishers to adapt to the new situation and provide them assistance

Innovate fish harvesting gears to cope with the changed situation

Arrange alternative income for fishers

Move fishers and their boats and gears to a secure place immediately after getting disaster forecasts

Mortality rate of fishers may increase

Some of the fishing gears may become useless/damaged

Livelihoods of the fishers will be disturbed

Weakness of health/sickness of the fishers may increase.

The varied impacts of climate change almost always affect fish

Mangrove forests, a breeding and migratory ground of various aquatic animals including shrimps and crabs, may get damaged

Navigability in the beel, canal and river may decrease due to damage by tidal surges which may squeeze the fish habitat

Research the impact of saline water intrusion on open water fish and take steps accordingly

Research the impact of saline water intrusion on the natural breeding ground of Rui fish and fish fry in the halda river and take steps on the basis of research findings

Research the impact of saline water penetration on Hilsa breeding and fry

Breeding grounds for Rui fish in the halda river may get hampered

Adverse impacts may be observed on fresh water fish species

Shifts in the customary/usual fish harvesting season may occur

Breeding and migration of Hilsa fish may change

Due to saline water penetration Adaptation measures

Due to saline water penetration Adaptation measures Adaptation measures

Create mangrove forests extending over the whole coastal area

Tie up the khata materials of sanctuaries tightly

Re-establish the damaged mangrove forest

Excavate the beel, canal and river which were filled up due to the tidal surge

3. Impact on Fishers Adaptation measures

Impact and actions for marine fisheries resource

Due to increased sea surface temperature

Due to increased sea surface temperature Adaptation measures

The impacts of climate change on marine fisheries resources can be divided into two categories : 1. Impact on fisheries resources and 2. Impact on fishers

1. Impact on fisheries resources

Species diversity and production/ availability of fish and shrimps will change

Research the impact on the marine resources of fish, shrimps, sharks etc. (breeding growth, migration and roaming/wandering ground) and act on the basis of research findings

Research the impact of temperature on coral and take actions accordingly

Determine the impact of temperature on sea turtles and take effective steps for their protection

Fish, shrimps and other sea and coastal fisheries breeding processes may be hamperedThe migration pattern of hilsa and other fish and shrimps may change

Fishing grounds may change

Species diversity and production of fish, available in the coral area may be reduced due to damage to corals.

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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

Due to increased sea surface level/height

The breeding and roaming grounds of marine and coastal hilsa fish may change

Research the impact of increased sea surface levels on marine and coastal fisheries resources and take action on the basis of research findings

Amend current policies and activities for Hilsa conservation

Conduct relevant research through collaboration with neighboring countries.

Coral may be damaged and the diversity of coral-dependent fish species may be reduced

Migration of fish and shrimps may change

Coastal fish species diversity and availability may change.

Adaptation measures

Due to increased virulence of storm and tidal surge

Adaptation measures

The species diversity and production of fish and shrimp may change

Fry of marine fish, shrimps and crabs of the coastal area may be disturbed in their breeding and nursery grounds

Fish breeding and nursery grounds may be damaged due to the damage to mangrove forest and coral

Research the impacts of storms and tidal surges on marine and coastal fisheries resources and take steps on the basis of research findings.

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

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2. Impact on fishersMost of the fishers dependent on marine fishes are very poor and landless. They are the most vulnerable to natural disasters, as they live in disaster prone areas very close to the sea. Increases in the number of disasters due to climate change will create a critical situation for these fishers, for example:

Agricultural and livestock resources of the fishers may be hampered

Rehabilitate the fishers; build up their houses on high land and construct cyclone shelters

Increase awareness of the fishers regarding the actions to take in the changed situation and provide them training

Make fishers aware of the changed fishing grounds

Innovate appropriate fishing gears

Provide technical assistance for making boats resistant to high waves.

Ensure an adequate supply of drinking water for domestic animals by digging deep ponds near the shelter center

Arrange facilities to preserve fishing gears in the shelter centres

Make a high earthen shelter center for domestic animals

Arrange an adequate supply of drinking water by digging tube wells

Increase awareness regarding probable diseases during the disaster period and facilitate the treatment-facilities

Drinking water will become scarce and various diseases may spread

Fishers' working-day will decrease due to long durations of high sea tide and their livelihoods may be disturbed

The lives, boats and fishing gears of the fishers will be more vulnerable to damage

Coastal char areas may change; the change may occur in the wandering/roaming area of fish

Some of the fish harvesting gears may be useless or damaged

Coastal erosion may increase and so the fishers' sea-shore habitats may get washed out

Adaptation measures

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES

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The role of Union, Upazila and District Disaster Management Committee

To identify the area-wise risks of the fisheries sector through the participation of fishers and fish farmers representing different areas

To provide training to field-level fisheries officers on climate changeTo maintain effective coordination in implementing planned interventionsTo suggest amendments to fisheries related laws and policies, adapting to the changed situationTo include the fishers under all the government and non-government welfare institutions including the local government councilTo collect, provide and send the information on the impacts of climate and share this centrally.

To train the fishers/fish farmers to increase their skill in risk management

To strengthen the early warning/alarming system for disaster prone areas

To make the fishers/fish farmers capable of handling risks and provide them

To keep funds ready for the advanced planning and implementation of post-disaster rehabilitation

CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES