Fish production has decreased due to insufficient water in the water bodies amid poor rainfall during the monsoon in the Sylhet region this year. Meanwhile, the country’s largest haor Hakaluki is almost dry this year. Although the huge haor remains full of water during the monsoon every year the scenario is different this time.
The 18,115 hectare-haor, spread over 11 unions in 6 upazilas, go under water during the monsoon every year while during the dry season the same lands are used for Boro cultivation. About 40 per cent area of Hakaluki is in Barlekha and 30 per cent in Kulaura of Moulvibazar district while 15 per cent in Fenchuganj, 15 per cent in Golapganj and 5 per cent in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet.
A number of senior citizens of the area said they didn’t see such a situation in decades. It has badly hit the fish production. The fishery as well as the wetland plants would be in serious trouble due to the absence of water for months. Many small fishermen live on fishing in the haor during the monsoon. But this time they are in much trouble as there is no water in the water bodies.
Senior citizens say even 20 year ago, as many as 110 species of fishes were available in the Hakaluki Haor. It has come down to below 50 by now, they added. Many tasty fishes like Morayek, Gang Magur, Rita, Nanid, Baghair, Rani Elong, etc are almost non-existent. About 40 species of wetland plants are not available nowadays due to the absence of water while they were about 100.
District Fishermen Society president Sushendra Chandra Nomo said dredging of water bodies including river, beel, haor and canals is a must for raising fish production. Besides, enforcement of existing laws is also important, he added, indiscriminate use of insecticide should also be stopped.
Talking to this correspondent, Professor Mritunjay Kundu of the department of Aquatic Resources Management, Sylhet Agricultural University, said the fish production has fallen this season due to the absence of sufficient water in the beels, haor and rivers.