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Hilsa fishery research in Bangladesh
Project ID
FIS/1994/030
Project Country
Commissioned Organisation
CSIRO Marine Research, Australia
Project Leader
Dr Steve Blaber
stephen.blaber@marine.csiro.au
Phone:
07 3826 7200 (Sw)
Fax:
07 3826 7222
Project Budget
$918,165.00
Start Date
01/01/1996
Finish Date
31/12/1998
Extension Start Date
01/01/1999
Extension Finish Date
30/06/2001
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Mr Barney Smith
Overview Objectives
This ACIAR project aims to identify the whole life-cycle of the Hilsa, so that a management plan can be drawn up and put into practice as soon as possible.
Effective management could protect the spawning fish and the juveniles, locally known as Jakta, to preserve the fishery in the long term. However, Jakta are fished by some of the poorest people in Bangladesh and protecting the fish could deprive people of protein or livelihood. Effective management needs more information on which to base new policies, as well as trained personnel to monitor policy, and supply data for future management plans.
Project Background and Objectives
Hilsa, a tuna-like fish, is of great importance to the economies of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, Hilsa make up a quarter of the fish in the diet of most of the population, and also provides direct or indirect employment for between 2 and 12 million people, however, the usual catch of 200 000 tonnes per year has not increased despite efforts to increase the catch. It is important that fish remains a cheap and plentiful source of protein in Bangladesh.
The Hilsa live in the shallow coastal waters of the Bay of Bengal, and in the local estuaries and rivers. The marine fish move inland into rivers to spawn during July to September, and during March and April. The freshwater populations do not appear to move about much.
Location
There are no project locations defined for this project.
