Challenge of Aquaculture in Bangladesh during CORONA 19

Data and information sources are used from the direct interview with individual, publication of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), internet and related non-published grey literature. The country has an inland water area of about 4.72mill.ha and about 710km long coastal belt. Fisheries sector contributes 3.57% to the national GDP, 25.30% to the agricultural GDP and more than 2.0% to the total export earnings. The target of fish production was crossed by producing 4.28 mill.mt fish in 2017-2018, whereas in 2017-18, inland culture fisheries contribute 56.0% to total fish production. This sector has been contributing about 60% animal protein in daily dietary requirement comes from fish, which is significant in food security through proving safe and quality animal protein. About 162.18 million (11%) people more than of total population are engaged with this sector on full and part time basis for their livelihoods. Bangladesh is blessed with an enriched aquatic diversity, comprising almost 260 freshwater fish species and 740 marine water fish species with other aquatic lives. But due to COVID 19 decline and degradation of wetland resources, the stock of inland capture fisheries has been reduced remarkably. In recent years, the fisheries sector is faced with challenges posed by numerous natural and anthropogenic causes such as climate change, natural disaster, environmental pollution, industrialization, overfishing, using destructive fishing gears, pesticide and agrochemicals and COVID 19. Very recently some important national program and biological management technology is developed for hilsha production, fish production and open water management to restrict the declination of resources and enhance production. But about 11% people are going to be jobless and maximum worker are workless in the country by affecting of COVID 19. The effect of COVID 19 is posing significant threat to the production, income, food security and livelihood of the population.