International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(12), pp. 250-259, December 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploitation, trade, conservation and management of shark fishery in the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh region

Roy Bikram Jit¹*, Nripendra Kumar Singha¹, Gaziur Rhaman¹ and Fukrul Alam²

¹Marine Fisheries Survey Management Unit, C.G.O building-2, 6th floor, Agrabad, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

²Matshya Bhaban, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: jitroy1964@yahoo.com. Tel: 00 88 01815509464; Fax: 00 88 031 724206.

Accepted 12 November, 2014

Abstract

This study was conducted during July, 2003 to June, 2013 about landing volumes of shark fishery (sharks and rays) in artisanal and industrial fishing sector only in group- wise not in species wise. In these periods, in artisanal fisheries gill nets (shark nets), set bag nets, long lines and trammel nets exploiting data were analyzed. But from 2012-2013 periods in industrial fisheries, this study started the recording and keeping of harvesting data of sharks and rays by trawl fishing in group wise. During 2012-2013, total sharks and rays landing volume contributes only 0.85% (5017 MT) of the total marine fish production of Bangladesh. During 2010-2011 to 2012-2013, no sharks and rays product items were traded from Bangladesh due to international market ban. But from 2003-2004 to 2009-2010 period, sharks and rays products with fish maws were exported to the Myanmar, India, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, USA and other countries. Dried and iced sliced meat of shark and rays, its sun-dried hide, bones, fins, tails, teeth and shark liver oil were all sold to local consumers, but only sets of fins (2 pectoral, 2 pelvic, 1 dorsal, 2 anal and 1 caudal fin) and skins were exported to the foreign markets, which has been stopped now. In the year 2009-2010, a total of 955 MT of sharks and rays product (with fish maws) were exported and a total of USD 1.60 million were earned (app.). For the conservation and management of shark fishery, there is need for the National Plan of Action, which was exploited in the MSY and which helped to ban critically endangered sharks and rays species. Appropriate law must be set up in the Fish Act (at present Fish Act has no forms of restriction for harvesting sharks, while Forestry Act restricts it in Sundarbans area) for sustainable harvesting and conservation of the elasmobranchs. Such law should include the number of boats (motorized- and non-motorized) and industrial trawlers that could be allowed to harvest sharks from a particular area, to include the particular season and the allowable limit of harvests; in every case, proper ways of fishing methods should strictly be followed. Coastal areas around Saint Martin’s Island and Sundarbans proposed by the Bay of Bengal should be declared as Marine Protected Area as most sharks use these areas as their nursing grounds.

Key words: Trade, conservation, management, fish act, forest act.