A prelude to extinction

Seven points in the junction of Tentulia, Agunmukha and Buragauranga estuaries in Patuakhali are one of the breeding grounds of the indigenous pangas fry in the country. The points have been declared as sanctuaries for breeding and migration of the indigenous species of pangas.

But the local unscrupulous fishermen are catching pangas fry flouting the restrictions of the sanctuary. Experts are ringing an alarm that if the killing spree continues, the indigenous breed of pangas will be extinct soon.

Researchers of Ecofish Bangladesh Project-2 of World Fish, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have been working to protect indigenous pangas breed found in rivers since 2018.

In 2020, the organisation has identified the breeding grounds of pangas and similar fish at seven points in Char Kajal, Char Biswas and Banyatali of Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali region and Chalitabunia, Char Kasem, under Char and Sonar Char areas of Rangabali upazila.

Researchers say that pangas is one of the fastest-growing catfish species. A pangas can weigh up to 60 kg. Catfish is the third-highest producing fish in the country after hilsa. According to the estimates for the fiscal year 2020-21, 11,000 tonnes of pangas came from rivers alone.

According to the Fisheries Act, fishing under 12 inches of pangas is prohibited but fishermen are not abiding by it.

Ecofish Bangladesh Project-2 officials said that in 2020, 6,825 maunds of pangas fry were caught in Patuakhali district and around 9,390 maunds in 2021. In the current season, from December to March, 11,340 maunds of pangas fry have been caught.

Visiting various fish markets in Patuakhali town, it was found that pangas fry were being sold in different markets in Galachipa and Rangabali openly. A recent visit to the New Market fish market in Patuakhali town revealed that some retailers were openly selling pangas fry at Tk 230 to Tk 250 per kg.

Monir Hossain, a fishmonger in New Market, said there is a lot of pangas fry in the market. If the amount of pangas fry caught illegally in this area could be protected, then this area could be turned into a mine for pangas along with hilsa.

Sagarika Smriti, an associate researcher of Ecofish-2 project, said that they have been working as partners in technical and research initiatives of the government since 2015 to stop catching of pangas fry, increase breeding and protection. As a result, other fish have also increased in the rivers due to the impact of hilsa protection programme for several years.

Sagarika said that just as the government has taken various initiatives to protect hilsa, including declaring sanctuaries and stopping fishing during the breeding season, similar sanctuaries should be set up to protect native species of fish.

District Fisheries Officer Mollah Emdadullah said that from November to July, it has been prohibited to possess, carry, transport and sell small size pangas of 30 cm or 12 inches for 9 months. However, some unscrupulous fishermen are catching the fry of pangas from rivers in different ways.

"We have started a campaign to seize illegal nets. Our campaign to protect pangas will continue," he added.