A STUDY ON BANA (FISHING TRAP) IN THE CHALAN BEEL, BANGLADESH

A STUDY ON BANA (FISHING TRAP) IN THE CHALAN BEEL, BANGLADESH Nahid Sultana* M Nazrul Islam Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh *Correspondence: Nahid Sultana, Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh. ABSTRACT The present study on fishing technique using bana (trap) in the Chalan Beel was conducted for a period of 3 years from July 2011 to June 2014. Trap description, operation details and catch composition were studied through field survey in different parts of studied wetland. Catch composition revealed that maximum fishes are being caught by this trap. Benefit-cost ratio of studied fishing trap was also calculated. Frequent fishing by this trap of the Chalan Beel resulting in decline of fish- species and abundance. Appropriate management steps are recommended to get rid of this destructive fishing trap. Keywords: Destructive fishing, Chalan beel, Bana, Trap, Cost-benefit ratio, Frequent fishing. INTRODUCTION The Chalan Beel in Bangladesh ties between 24.23 north latitude and 89.05 to 89.18 east longitude. It is the largest wetland in Bangladesh (Galib et al. 2009a). The Chalan Beel is silting up very fast. In the past it covered an area of about 1,085 km 2 but reduced to 368 km 2 in 1909, of which only 85 km 2 remained underwater throught the year. It now has shrunk to only 26 km 2. (Alam et al. 2012). Chalan beel is a large drainage system. This vast drainage network endows rich diversity of fishes providing livelihood for large number of people living in remote areas of Chalan Beel. However, a sharp decline in the fishery resources are experienced in past few year (Shahnaz 2005). The decline of fishery resources in the Chalan Beel is largely by the habitat degradation and unsustainable exploitation by the use of same traditional, unscientific fishing methods and gears (Von Brandt 1962). Various kinds of fishing methods are used in Chalan Beel. Trap is one of them. Various types of traps are used in fishing in our country. These traps are used to lose the fish which are allowed to get in but prevented escaping. The traps are usually made of split bamboo tied with rope, nylon thread, coir etc. Some traps are two side open, some www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1660

are one side open. Mainly traps are placed in the shallow water but some are in the deep water. The professional as well as non-professional fishermen catch fish by using traps. From the present study many kinds of traps are found in the study area of Chalan Beel e.g. Bana, Vair, Charo, Bitti, Kholson, Polo, Hancha, Doair. Bana is rectangular in shape. It has both sided vertical trap doors. The fishing methods used in different water bodies of Bangladesh is poorly worked out by several researchers (Galib et al. 2009a, 2009b; Chakrabarti et al. 1995; Ahmed 1954; Dewan and Mazid 1994; Rahman et al. 1993). There are few studies carried out on different aspects of the chalan Beel like fish diversity (Galib et al. 2009a), fishing gears (Galib et al. 2009b), and small indigenous fish species (Galib et al. 2010; Kostori et al. 2011). However, no study has been carried out on status of fishing by Bana not only in the Chalan Beel but also in Bangladesh and thus efforts have been taken to reveal the present status of fishing by Bana in the Chalan Beel. METHODOLOGY Study area and duration: The present study has been carried out study in Chalan Beel, the largest wetland of Bangladesh situated in the northwest region (Figure-1). Figure-1. The location of the Chalan Beel Sampling framework: Extensive field surveys were made for the collection of primary data. Information regarding the gear structure, fishing technique, mode of operation and catch composition were collected through personal interview and detailed discussion with local www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1661

fishermen as well as direct observation. Interviews were carried out using prepared questionnaire which was pre-tested in field-situation and updated before final use. Amount of catch was measured in kilogram (Kg) and weight was determined using pan balance. Species in the catch were identified following published literatures- (Rahman 1989, 2005; Talwar and Jhingran 1991). Benefit cost ratio (BCR) of Bana formula : BCR = B/K (FAO 1991); where B is the trap benefit and K is the sum of cost. Standard market price of fishes was considered during this calculation. Data analysis: Collected data was accumulated, grouped and interpreted according to the objective. Data were subjected to simple descriptive analysis using computer software Microsoft Excel 2007. Results and Discussion Types of Bana: On the basis of making materials Bana has two types: (a) Bamboo made bana, and (b) Bana made by net. Bana is rectangular in shape with both sided vertical trap doors which are provided with pointed inward bamboo mat acts as value. It is provided with a door at the upper surface for collecting fish. MATERIALS USED AND MAKING Narrow bamboo splits, flat bamboo splits, flat bamboo splits, coir, ropes of jute yarn, nylon thread are used for making Bana. To make the trap, first a bamboo mat is prepared by weaving with coir and jute yarn. Then the rectangular shape is given by fastening the flat bamboo-splits at the rectangular margin of lower and upper surface. Upper and lower surfaces are also covered by bamboo matin-case of bamboo made. Bana but net used incase of net made Bana. The margin being field with the margin of the trap body. Size: The length breadth and height of Bana vary from 0.7 to 0.8, 0.3 to 0.5 and 1.5 to 2 with the average 0.77±0.06, 0.4±0.1 and 1.77±0.25 in feet respectively. Mode of operation: It is kept under water with the help of bamboo poles and also used in shallow water into the aquatic weeds. 5-12 hours interval Bana is checked for collecting fishes. The amount of fish captured depends on different factors such as water current, season, duration, light, water temperature, turbidity, ph, wind, rainfall etc. In the rainy season, bana operated most in the study area because on the high flood during this period. www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1662

Fishing sites: Bana was set up in such a position in the wet land where continuous water flow was prevailed. After setting up the bana into water, charo, vair and bitti was also placed to the pocket zone of bana for collecting fishes. Bana was found to be operated in all three upazillas of study area though the highest number was recorded in Singra region. Catch analysis: Mean amount of fish catch and catch composition of bana shown in Table 1 and 2 respectively. It was found the all types of fishes including small to large were caught by this fishing trap. During the highest amount of catch (35.25±0.35 Kg) was obtained in October in Singra area by trap bana. Bana is a harmful net. Like Bana many other anthopogenic devices like harmful fishing gears were being operated in different water bodies of Bangladesh which were of destructive in nature and one of the prime reasons for the degradation of fish abundance as well as diversity. Results obtained through studies undertaken by several researchers have revealed same scenario (Galib et al. 2009a, 2013; Samad et al. 2010; Chaki et al. 2014; Mohsin et al. 2013, 2014; Galib 2015; Joadder et al. 2015). Table 1: Mean catch amount in different months. Location Month Mean±SD catch (Kg) Sep. 32.69±0.42 Oct. 35.25±0.35 Singra Nov. 28.29±0.99 Dec. 27.25±0.87 Jan. 25.05±0.35 Feb. 26.32±0.35 Sep. 27.84±0.85 Oct. 33.29±0.42 Gurudaspur Nov. 25.57±0.39 Dec. 23.87±0.35 Jan. 25.09±0.48 www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1663

Feb. 25.29±1.67 Sep. 28.29±3.50 Oct. 30.20±3.00 Tarash Nov. 29.14±2.69 Dec. 27.25±0.28 Jan. 25.47±0.48 Feb. 26.52±1.25 Table 2. Catch composition of major species. Fishes (Group name) Catch composition (in % Kg) Major carps 9.524 Minor carps 6.338 Air breathing cat fish 12.698 Square-head cat fish 8.529 Fresh water shark 6.417 Snake head 4.225 Mudskipper 4.278 Feather back 8.556 Anchovy 12.097 Butter fish 5.348 Jew fish 7.746 Giant peach 6.348 Loaches 7.896 No initiative was observed to regulate the use of this illegal banned fishing gears in the study area. There is a crying need to implement appropriate management techniques to save not only the water body but also its biodiversity. In several researches it was revealed that through there were remarkable anthropogenic activities but diversity and abundance of fishes were still high and establishment of sanctuaries can be an excellent option to save the aquatic biota. www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1664

Economics of Bana: The expenditure and income status regarding studied trap are shown in Table 3. The benefic-cost ratio (BCR) was found 1.25 for bamboo made bana than that of net made bana. Major expenditure issues were bana making and management, laborer wages bribe to the local influential people and transportation cost. On the other hand, income came only from selling of harvested fishes. Table 3. Economics of Bana in the study area. Name of Trap Cost Income BCR Bana (Bamboo made) 24,000/- 54,000/- 1.25 Bana (Net made) 26,000/- 54,500/- 1.09 No previous was found to be conducted where BCR of any fishing trap was calculated and thus it was not possible to compare the present finding with previous one, In Bangladesh, cost and benefit issues are calculated mostly for production oriented researches, for example carp production status (Mohsin et al. 2012). But cost benefit ratio was calculated only one fishing gear, A study on Suti jal in Chalan Beel status. (Sultana N and Islam N 2016). The previous finding of gear was calculated of the same authors, who made the present finding. CONCLUSION Bana is very harmful trap for fishes. Because, every Bana contain Bhair in its pockets. Large size fishes are caught by Bana but small size of fishes are caught by Bhair. So, fish of every size is caught by it. Bana is also a barrier against the fish movement. Fishes are declining day by day in the study area because of this fishing trap. Thus, for the proper management of rapidly dealing fisheries resources, there should be strict ban on the area of destructive fishing method and only scientific methods for sustainable fishing should be allowed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Science and Technology for providing financial support to carry out this research work. The authors are also thankful and grateful to the fisher community of the Chalan Beel for their kind help in collecting necessary data and information. We would also like to thank two reviewers of our manuscript for their constructive comments on manuscript. www.ijaer.in Copyright IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1665

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