World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh

The event World fish migration day 2016 Bangladesh was celebrated successfully on 24 May, 2016 at the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh. During the event, about 250 up audiences joined to celebrate this special vent of World Fish Migration Day 2016 in Bangladesh. The event started with the inauguration of art exhibition on the theme of the event by the students of schools and colleges who submitted the drawings on the suggestive templates on fish, river and people.

Inaugural Session

Opening of the Art Exhibition

Professor Dr. Gulshan Ara Latifa inaugurated the art exhibition on 10: 30 am as a special guest of the event on behalf of Chief Guest of the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of Jagannath University, Bangladesh Professor Dr. Mijanur Rahman. She enjoyed drawing and coloring exhibitions. She also delivered speech on migratory fish, river and people. Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Chairman of the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh supported the occasion all through to make it a success. He was always encouraging to the students to raise awareness in the local community.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh delivered welcome speech on the context and importance of migratory fish, open rivers and the event. Also In his speech, he said that Bangladesh is a land of rivers in the world map. Once all the rivers of Bangladesh was navigable but the Padma, the Meghna and many rivers have become unusable for navigable for much of the time of the year due to the different development activities, specially the construction of the Farakka Barrage. As a result, water levels are going lower in many rivers of Bangladesh causing disruption of the natural flow of rivers and preventing fish migration such as our national fish Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha). As a result, these fishes are decreasing day by day in Bangladesh. Many migratory fish species are severely threatened locally as well as globally and the fish migration route is a key to conserve these species and their habitats. Many fish need to migrate to reproduce, feed and complete their life cycles. Migratory fish make up a crucial link in the food chain and plays an important role in healthy and productive river systems. Furthermore, they provide an important food supply and livelihood for millions of people around the world. Hilsa stocks have been hit hard by habitat degradation and have suffered from over-fishing.


Documentary showed on migratory fish illisha shada and reported that Bhabanipur a riverine village at the downstream of the river Meghan at Doulatkhan Bhola. About 2000 families live here, 95% of the villagers solely depend on hilsa fishing and allied activities. So is the case with 4.5 lakh families of coastal districts, their only livelihood is hilsa fishing and other activities. In Bangladesh, hilsa and aliened activities such as icing, transport, marketing, processing export, boat and net making, repairing additionally involves 2.4-2.5 million people.  Contributes are 13% of our national annual fish production alone. Once hilsa fish was quite common in almost every inland rivers of Bangladesh. Unwarranted reduction in water flow, siltation in most rivers due to various local and regional anthropogenic activities hilsa harvest gradually declined in the inland rivers. At present major hilsa harvesting areas are Padma Rivers, downstream of Meghan River, Tentulia, Arial khan, the coastal areas and Bay of Bengal. Hilsa is a highly migratory and transboundary fish, swims fast against the water current. Hilsa migrates to the upstream inland freshwater rivers in search of food and shelter and migrates back to the sea for attending sexual maturity. Upon sexual maturity in the sea, adults migrate to the coastal areas for spawning. Egg bearing mother-hilsa laid eggs in the brackish water. Immediately the males fertilize the laid eggs by spreading their milts on the eggs. Mother hilsa again migrates back to the sea after laying eggs. Floating fertilized eggs develop in to newly hatched larvae within two days and remains in the coastal areas for few days. Gradually the newly hatched larvae swim to the upstream freshwater rivers in search of food and shelter. Again sub-adult hilsa swims downstream to the sea by their instinct for getting sexual maturity. In 2-3 months’ time they become Jatka (baby hilsa). Upon sexual maturity in the sea adults again migrate to the coastal areas. Hilsa is mainly harvested during their upstream and downstream migration.

Professor Dr. Zakaria Mia also delivered speech on awareness increase of different community, importance of applied research, different types of dam and he is also concern on Padma Bridge project and Padma River as a special guest in the event. 

Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Alim was remember childhood life and gossiped of his school teacher then he delivered speech on fish culture, types of migration, natural fisheries resources, hoar, beel and our national fish Hilsa. He was support to Abdul Al Masud for the slogan “We don’t eat Hilsh fish in the national festival Pohela Boishakh”. He also thought to conserve natural resources because day by day water is polluted and destroy habitat.

         

Technical Session

Concept of fish migration         

During the technical Session Anirban Sarker, Assistant professor, Department of Zoology also delivered speech and presentation on concept of fish migration, reasons of migration, migration time, migration types, migration route of eel and salmon fish migration.

Illisha fish migration in Bangladesh
Hilsa fish Specialist Abdul Al Masud, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University also delivered a speech and presentation on illisha fish migration in Bangladesh, and migratory movements such as from river to sea and from sea to river. He also discusses hilsa types, seasons of Hilsha fish migration, and the importance of Hilsa fish migration. He has recommended conserving river habitat and maintaining Hilsha marketing and harvesting chain to conserve Hilsha. According to Halder and Islam 2008 During the entire life, Hilsa lives in the sea for most of its life but migrates at least 1,200 – 1,300 km upstream from the estuarine region for spawning purposes and it is also found about 250km distance from the coastal region. Five types of hilsa can be found worldwide. Hilsa fish is found in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Hilsa is an oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Recent experiments have shown its beneficial effects in decreasing cholesterol levels in rates etc. 

Quiz and Identification contest

Then Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki announce to audience to enjoy fish identification and quiz contest in the event. Md. Asaduzzaman, Md. Muzammel Hossain and Sanjay Chakraborty were maintaining quiz and fish identification contest. During the contest Haraj Uddin Hero and Moumita Saha Bristy, Nahida Yesmin got 1st prize in the quiz and fish identification contests respectively. All are undergraduate students of Jagannath University, Bangladesh.

We are acknowledging to Nature Study & Conservation Club, JnU for supporting the event. On the other hand, we can’t support Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH-BD). Also Thanks to Farzana Islam, Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University for her supporting banner design. We would like to thank Muhsana Binte Ferdous, Israt Jahan Biha, Jannati Jasmin Sheba, Sadik Hossain Ornob, Sadia Afrin Sornaly, Iffat Jahan Bristy, and Jasrah Jehaan who successfully participated in the drawing and coloring exhibitions. Credit goes to Hasan Al Razi, Ashik Jahan Galib, S M Nadim Parves, Naim Khandakar, Md. Jayedul Islam, Salahuddin Zadid, Soron Ahmed, Nur Islam, Md. Nur Islam, Md. Arafat Rahman Khan, Provakor Sarkar, Nahida Yesmin, Papia, Anik Chandra Mondal and Tanvir Ahmed Shaikot, Md. Hafijur Rohman of the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University for providing all Volunteer support during the event.

                                                        Happy Fish

   

Children drawing and coloring

Teesta river is going to death for Teesta barrage. Jagannath University, Bangladesh research on connecting, fish, rivers and people in Bangladesh science 2014 with World Fish Migration Foundation. They are also working on awareness program in different community to save the open rivers and migratory fish. 

Chair: Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam.
Convener: Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki,
Members: Shayer Mahmood Ibney Alam
Coordinator: Md. Muzammel Hossain
Event link: https://worldfishmigrationblog.wordpress.com/portfolio/bangladesh-2/