Fishes decline alarmingly in Kaptai Lake
7,200 tonnes netted last year against 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes 15 years ago
Illegal fishing in Kaptai Lake goes unabated.Photo: STAR
Fish production in Kaptai Lake, the largest artificial freshwater body in the country, is dwindling gradually. Although lack of proper maintenance, use of 'current' nets and indiscriminate netting of fish fries and mother fish are causing the fish production to go down, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) is yet to take any effective step in this regard. Sources said the government now earns about Tk 2 to 3 crore in revenue annually from fishes in the lake. Earnings may be Tk 7 to 10 crore if the lake is maintained properly, they claimed. Kaptai Lake, which stretches over an area of 250 square kilometres, came into being during implementation of Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Project (KHPP) in the 60s. About 54,000 hectares of arable land went under water and more than two lakh people were displaced due to construction of Kaptai Dam. The then government handed over the lake to Fisheries Development Corporation for maintenance and fish cultivation. A project was also introduced to build necessary infrastructures and develop the lake. Although the government continues to allocate funds for the project, fish resources are declining for lack of effective steps by BFDC (Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation) authorities. Indigenous fishes including ruhi, katla, mrigel, mohashoyl, chital, tengra, pabda, baraputi, sarputi, boal, kalibous, sadaghannya, kalighannya, mola and chapila, which were in plenty in the lake earlier, are becoming scarce day by day. However, smaller varieties like chapila and kachki has increased, the sources said. After the creation of the lake, pangas, sada ghonia, baghaira, and sarputi were thriving. But those are also declining, BFDC sources said seeking anonymity. They claimed that though the government imposed a ban on use of 'current' nets, indiscriminate catching of fries and mother fishes during breeding period goes on. About seven to eight tonnes of fish are collected daily from the lake now. The authorities hope that the fish production will witness a rise, BFDC sources said. About 7200 tonnes of fish were collected from the lake last year that earned a revenue of Tk 3 crore for the government. The production may be lesser this year, the sources said . In previous two years, annual production varied from 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes while it was 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes about 15 years ago, the sources said. BFDC releases 33 tonnes of fish fries in the lake during rainy season. But soon after the release, some unscrupulous fishermen in collusion with a a section of BFDC officials net those. Former chairman of Rangamati municipality Kazi Nazrul Islam, also a member of Kaptai Lake Control Committee (KLCC), said BFDC authorities release fish fries in the lake but they do not take care of those. He alleged that although the government banned fishing in the lake for three months from May 15 to August 15, indiscriminate netting of fries and mother fishes continues during the period. Nirmolendu Tripura, a member of KLCC, also alleged that the lake is not properly looked after by BFDC. Alamgir Hossain, scientific officer at Fisheries Research Institute in Rangamati, said fish production is decreasing due to damage of natural breeding places, diversion of water flow, use of 'current' nets and netting of fish fries. Blaming BFDC for its poor management, he said the government can earn at least Tk seven crore if the lake is managed properly. Contacted, BFDC project manager Anisur Rahman denied all the allegations. He also claimed that there is no scope to conceal the real quantity of fish collected from the lake as it is measured in presence of both BFDC officials and fish traders.
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