Corona’s impact and actions in the fisheries sector

Bangladesh is rich in fisheries resources. Due to the unprecedented improvement in fisheries over the past few decades, today Bangladesh is self-sufficient in fish production. In this situation, the fish industry is in extreme crisis due to the sudden impact of corona. The general holiday has been going on since March 26. Virtually the whole country has been locked down. In this situation, activities at all levels of the fisheries sector are being disrupted. I have talked to various stakeholders to assess the impact of corona in this sector. According to them, some issues have been identified.

Domestic demand is declining:
According to an estimate by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), about 20 million people in Bangladesh have already lost their jobs due to the corona. Balanced food on the food list of unemployed people is making it difficult to eat dalvat to survive. As a result, such unemployed people are unable to keep fish on their diet. In addition, the demand for domestic fish is declining due to the closure of restaurants and social events. The number of fish eaters is also declining due to some unscrupulous people spreading misleading information through social media.

Canceling Export Orders:
Import-export trade is almost closed due to global corona situation and foreign buyers are consistently canceling their purchases due to global lockdown. As a result, the supply of fish in the market is increasing and the price of fish is gradually decreasing. A significant source of our foreign income is having a very negative impact on the shrimp sector. Similarly, the export of freshwater fish is also declining significantly. The fisheries sector, which has huge potential, is on the verge of collapse.

Low prices:
The prices of farmed fish and shrimp are constantly declining due to Covid-19. National and international lockdowns and inadequacy of local buyers are destabilizing the market and depreciating prices.

Transportation Complexity:
Due to the interruption of communication, transportation of raw materials, food, medicine and other essential items of the fisheries industry is becoming complicated. Even the entire fishing industry has often come to a standstill due to supply problems in the fishing market and problems in transporting fish fry.

Summer fry stocking problem:
This is the right time to stock fish in the pond which will ensure next year’s fish production. But at this time it is facing huge losses due to lack of various raw materials such as aquamadicin, disinfectant, shortage of labor, fish fry and food. On the other hand, fish farmers are not interested in selling fish as the price of fish is low. As a result, it is getting late to stockpile summer fish.

Lack of technical advice:
Due to stagnation, fish farmers are not getting necessary advice from experienced consultants. As a result, farmers are not getting timely solutions to their problems.

Things to do:
Increase the domestic demand : The demand
for domestic fish can be increased by promoting various beneficial aspects of fish protein in disease prevention through newspapers, various television programs and social media. At the village level, the demand for domestic fish can be increased by ensuring the sale and purchase of fish by setting up fish markets in e-markets and open spaces.

Simplification of market system through information technology:
Market system can be modernized through an integrated electric portal for producers and fish wholesalers. In this case, each union level information service center and upazila fisheries office can coordinate simultaneously. It seems that it is possible to easily connect the producer and the buyer through this service.

Ease of
access to labor : By ensuring the health protection of the workers, it is possible to make them easily accessible and roaming in different sectors of aquaculture . If necessary, the owner of the firm can provide a worker card.

Facilitating communication with experts:
Permits for movement between experts can be issued through appropriate authorities from the government level. As a result, ordinary farmers can easily solve their problems with expert opinion. In this case District Fisheries / Upazila Fisheries Officer can play the role of appropriate authority.

Availability of Raw Materials:
Aquapharm shops supplying all types of raw materials for aquaculture should be kept open and transportation services should be ensured if required.

Providing short-term and long-term financial assistance: The
government needs to ensure short-term and long-term interest-free financial assistance to aquaculture stakeholders. It is to be noted that the shrimp sector is especially important for our country in the fisheries industry. Shrimp production is declining in this sector due to various problems. So I think financial incentives are especially important to solve the problems in this sector.

Author: Professor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University