Ecosystems for Life A Bangladesh-India Initiative PROCEEDINGS: Trans-boundary Policy Dialogue on Hilsa Fisheries Management  

24 July 2012, Kolkata, India

Dialogue for Sustainable Management of Trans-Boundary Water Regimes in South Asia

Inauguration Trans-boundary Policy Dialogue on Hilsa Fisheries Management

Time Inauguration

10.00 AM – 11:5 AM Welcome Remarks by Mr A P Sharma, Director, CIFRI Introduction to IUCN: by Ganesh Pangare, Head, IUCN Water in Asia, IUCN ARO Speech by Guest of Honour: Mr. Sayed Monowar Hossain, Former Secretary, BIWTA and Navigation Expert Speech by Guest of Honour: Guest of Honour: Md Mokbul Hossain, Member of Parliament, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the MoFL, Bangladesh Speech by Guest of Honour: Mr. Zafar Iqbal Siddique, Member of Parliament and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the MoFL, Bangladesh Speech by Chief Guest : Mr Subrata Saha, State Minister for Fisheries, West Bengal, India

The Trans-boundary Policy Dialogue on Hilsa Fisheries Management organized by Ecosystems for Life:

A Bangladesh-India Initiative started at 10.00 am with the welcoming announcement from Ms Bushra Nishat,

Project Manager (Bangladesh), Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh-India Initiative. Ms Nishat invited Mr

Ishtiak Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office to the dais to chair the

Inauguration session, Mr Ganesh Pangare, Md Mokbul Hossain, Mr Zafar Iqbal Siddique, Mr Subrata Saha

and Mr Subesh K Das as Guest of honour.

Welcome Remarks: Mr A P Sharma, Director, CIFRI

In his welcome speech, Mr A P Sharma remarked that the Hilsa, an important fish

species in Bangladesh and India, is difficult to manage efficiently as its habitat is in

public and international waters. This meeting, he said, is an important first step towards

formulating policies that could help foster effective hilsa management.

He thanked IUCN for the efforts towards conservation of this prized species, the Hilsa.

He said that the Ecosystems for Life project has created a platform for discussing legal

and management related issues. Also the project is creating awareness on the pertinent issues needing

immediate attention.

He highlighted a number of issues related to Hilsa & which will be discussed throughout the day; such as

Trans-boundary fishery and Migratory pattern of the species

Finally, he hoped that dialogue will come up with concrete measures directed at preventing unsustainable

fishery practices for improving the population status of the species.

Speech by Ganesh Pangare, Head, IUCN Water in Asia, IUCN ARO

Mr Ganesh Pangare then introduced IUCN to the audience, and emphasized its role as

an international membership organization that focuses on conservation. Ganesh then

gave the audience an insight into the Ecosystems for Life initiative, and how this Hilsa

policy workshop fits in with the overall research themes and objectives of the initiative.

This workshop, he said, is one such method through which scientific, factual outcomes

can be translated into policy and legislation that produce real world results.

Guest of Honour: Md Mokbul Hossain, Member of Parliament and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the MoFL, Bangladesh

Md Mokbul Hossain began his introductory speech by underlining the importance of

Hilsa as a source of food and livelihood, and also as a symbol for Indo-Bangladesh

relations. The economic importance of the hilsa cannot be ignored, he said, citing that

it is the source of livelihood, both directly and indirectly for 2-2.5m people across both

countries. He said that70% of the Hilsa consumed in West Bengal is sourced from

Bangladesh. He then raised concerns over diminishing population size and breakages

in the migratory routes of the fish that bonds the two countries culturally.

Mokbul also spoke about the fishing ban imposed by the Government of Bangladesh, which aims to allow the

proliferation of jatka (Hilsa juveniles), and the complementary food subsidy programmes offered by the

government to aid fishermen during the ban period. These measures, according to Mokbul, are not sufficient

if implemented sporadically and in select spots – there is a need to implement such measures in a

harmonized and holistic manner. He concluded his speech by expressing his hopes that the outcomes of

dialogue are analyzed critically, and the most useful and implementable of which are adopted into joint policy

and action.

Mr. Zafar Iqbal Siddique, Member of Parliament and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the MoFL

Mr Jafar iqbal started his speech by saying that political border can only isolate the

countries but never has been succeeded in breaking cultural relationship between

Bangladesh and India. He said that the Hilsa has established itself as one of the most

important commercial fishes of the Indo-Pacific region. The species is all the rage in

Bengali cuisine and highly prized in West Bengal, India because of its distinctive taste

and flavor.

He wished that the participants of this meeting would be able to take some legendary

steps so that the people of coming future would consider this meeting as a milestone of bi-lateral

cooperation. He thanked IUCN for conducting such a research and organizing the dialogue.

State Minister for Fisheries, West Bengal, India

Mr Subrata Saha remarked that more needs to be done to save the hilsa, an

internationally valuable species. He requested that IUCN takes the initiative to do so

not only through knowledge sharing meetings, but also in collaboration with (a) the

governments of Bangladesh and India, through policy advocacy exercises, and (b)

with the fishermen, by increasing and deepening awareness on the why the fishing

ban period and the ban of fine mesh nets are implemented. “Hilsa is becoming more

popular,” he said, and shared an anecdote on how the Prime Minister of India, a

staunch vegetarian, made an exception for the hilsa during a trip to Bangladesh. Subrata recommended that

the measures adopted to conserve the hilsa be extended to other fish species. Subrata then concluded his

remarks by congratulating the researchers on their hard work, and asked that this research, dialogue and

advocacy effort is continued.

Mr Subesh K Das then introduced a pilot dam project implemented by the Dept of Forestry of West Bengal,

which began works in 2011 and is hoped to garner a win-win solution. He also urged IUCN to expand its

research finding for larger influence.

Plenary Session 1: Current status of Hilsa fisheries management Session Chair: Dr C Vasudevappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India

 

Time Session

11:30 AM – 11:50 AM Presentation on JRT research findings on Hilsa study by Dr. Utpal Bhowmik, Head, Riverine Ecology, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute and Prof. Dr. Dewan Ali Ahsan, Chairman, Department of Fisheries, Dhaka University Overview of Hilsa fisheries management in Bangladesh by Mr. M. Shamsul Kibria, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh Overview of Hilsa fisheries management in India by Dr. C Vasudepappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India Sharing experience by Hilsa fishermen: Bangladesh and Indian fishermen representatives Open discussion by participants Summarize by Chair Dr. K. Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India

Findings from the Joint Research Activity: Professor Dewan Ali Hassan

Professor Dewan Ali Hassan introduced this joint research initiative, which was

initiated in 2011 and performed by a collaborative team of Bangladeshi and

Indian researchers. Dewan explained the rationale for this study and its

objectives, which are to:

i) Assess migration and spawning patterns;

ii) Identify anthropogenic and climate change threats to migration and

spawning; and

iii) Assess extent and depth of said impacts.

Dewan then explained the methodology employed for the research, which included:

i) Determining migration patterns for the hilsa

ii) Assessing water quality at 5 sampling locations which have been identified as important for in the

hilsa life cycle

iii) Performing a stakeholder identification and analysis exercise

iv) Assessing fishing trends and socioeconomic conflicts arising from fishing activities; and

v) Examining and critiquing prevailing policies on hilsa harvesting.

Findings from the Joint Research Activity: Mr Utpal Bhowmik

Mr Utpal Bhowmik presented the findings of the study, including:

1. Physico-chemical characteristics in sampling locations

a. Temperature: low in most parts due to marine influence but

high in intertidal area. Variation in temperature and rainfall

patterns in 2010 may have caused breeding failure and

ensuing low catches in 2011

b. Transparency: low during monsoon season, climbed post

monsoon

c. Dissolved oxygen: high in Hooghly area

d. Salinity: low in post monsoon period

2. Hilsa breeding and spawning patterns

a. Sex: higher number of females during the breeding season, higher number of males

otherwise

b. Large mature female individuals found downstream, not common previously

c. Researchers identified three breeding grounds

d. Migration: Farakka Barrage has changed natural migration course; during the early-mid

monsoon periods larger individuals are observed, during the late monsoon period smaller

individuals are observed.

e. There is a concern that there is not enough migration.

3. Fishing patterns

a. Fine mesh nets used by fishermen are producing a negative impact on hilsa reproduction –

jatka are captured by these nets.

b. Changing depths at the estuary are also thought to produce an impact on catch volumes

Hilsa Management in Bangladesh: M Shamsul Kibria, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh

Mr M Shamsul Kibria argued that to increase hilsa production, there is a need to

return to natural life cycle processes. Shamsul underlined the importance of the

hilsa to the Bangladeshi economy by sharing the following statistics:

- Fisheries contribute 5% to Bangladesh’s GDP, and 8% to its forex market.

Fish also accounts for 60% of the nation’s protein source.

- Hilsa catch constitutes the largest product of fisheries at 12% of 2010/11

production at 340,000 MT

- Hilsa catch shown to be in decline since the early 90s, and this decline is thought to be caused by:

unmitigated catching of jatka and brood hilsa, habitat destruction, insufficient environmental flows,

siltation in migration grounds and declining water quality.

To combat further decline of the hilsa, Shamsul said that the government of Bangladesh formulated an

action plan in 2008/9 that aims to

1. Conserve the hilsa through protection of brood and breeding grounds, and embarking on genetic

diversity conservation initiatives

2. Promote the interest of fishermen by providing food subsidies and introducing alternative income

generating activities during lean periods, providing microcredit facilities for improvements in fishing

practices, and improving hilsa supply chain

3. Solicit the participation of all stakeholders through multicultural involvement for law enforcement, and

promoting regional cooperation

The way forward, according to Shamsul, involves multiple points of entry:

1. Embarking on collaborative transboundary research initiatives, habitat restoration activities, and law

enforcement to protect breeding grounds

2. Ensuring that existing infrastructure are fish friendly

3. Sharing experiences, expertise and transferring technology especially for captive breeding

Shamsul ended his presentation by saying, “As we cannot divide the living organism we should also not

divide Natural systems. Like an animal a contiguous natural system like a river if divided will die.”

Hilsa Management in India: Dr C Vasudepappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India

Dr C Vasudevappa offered the following avenues to improve hilsa management in India:

1. Improving knowledge of the hilsa through research. Dr C Vasudevappa

said that although hilsa catch volumes in Bangladesh have declined in

recent years, it is unknown whether this indicates declining hilsa

population in India as well as the stocks in Bangladesh may not be the

same as those in India. Furthermore, there is a need to determine if

the breeding grounds identified in the joint study remain the same in

the face of anthropogenically induced changes and climate change in

the riverine ecosystem. Dr Vasudevappa also recommended that

further studies consider the whole ecosystem, including other biota and abiotic components, and

how human activities can impact all ecosystem components.

2. Dr Vasudevappa also recommended improvements in hilsa fishing practices. He commended the

fishing ban imposed in Bangladesh, which is important for hilsa reproduction. Dr Vasudevappa also

urged fishermen to consider sustainable practices, such as limiting the use of mechanized fishing

methods, and aquaculture. Dr Vasudevappa indicated that there is an ongoing World Bank initiative

that promotes artificial breeding and culture of certain fish species.

3. Conservation of hilsa habitats, implemented in a collaborative manner by both countries, would be

useful not only in protecting the hilsa and enhancing the hilsa recruitment process, but will also other

species and the diversity of the riverine ecosystem, said Dr Vasudevappa.

4. Most importantly, according to Dr Vasudevappa, all these efforts need to be harmonized and

coordinated. There is much to gain if Bangladesh and India work together to address these issues

by improving existing policies, and also by improving the methods through which these policies are

implemented and enforced.

Fishermen’s Experiences

The President of the Bangladesh Fishermen’s

Association urged policymakers and scientists to take into

account observations put forth by fisher folk in formulating

policies and arriving at scientifically driven conclusions, as

fisher folk are the first to be affected by changes in the

riverine ecosystem.

The President of the India Fishermen’s Association

commended the fishing ban approach, and suggested that the ban be extended to estuary and marine areas

that are important for hilsa migration and breeding.

Finally Chair of the plenary session Dr. K. Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India

wrapped up by urging both the governments to work together to save the prized Hilsa. He also thanked the

participants for sharing their experience and knowledge.

 

Plenary Session 2: Joint action plan on Hilsa Fishery Management Session Chair: Dr Vijaya kumaran, DG, Fishery Survey of India

Time Session

02:00 PM – 02:20 AM Presentation on Policy Recommendations of JRT Hilsa study by Professor Sugata Hazra, Director, Department of Oceanography, Jadavpur University and Professor Niamul Naser, Department of Zoology, Dhaka University Joint action plan on Hilsa fisheries management

by Mr M Shamsul Kibria, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of the Fisheries and Livestock, Government Republic of Bangladesh Mr Dr K Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India Dr C Vasudepappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India Facilitator Mr Ganesh Pangare, Head, Water Programme, IUCN Asia

Vote of Thanks by Mr Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh

Policy Recommendations

Dr Niamul Naser introduced the draft policy recommendations for

Bangladesh that have been formulated by the joint research team in

collaboration with IUCN. Niamul offered the following addenda to the

following recommendations:

Recommendation #1: Niamul remarked that the fiscal subsidies that are

recommended to be offered in lieu of food support should be provided for

at least the first couple of years of implementation.

Recommendation #2: The bottom up approach is essential in ensuring

beneficiaries are more actively involved.

Recommendation #3: Regular media broadcasts can be instrumental in

heightening awareness on the hilsa

Dr Sugata Hazra then outlaid the policy recommendations for India. Sugata

offered the following addenda to the following recommendations:

Recommendation #13: Sugata stated that national statistics for the number of

vessels allowed in the fi shing zone only account for licensed vessels. Because

of this, unlicensed vessels are under-represented, and thus actual fishing

activities are under-reported. Therefore, according to Sugata, in addition to the quota on fishing licenses and

fish landing limits per vessel as in the recommendation, there needs to be restrictions on unlicensed vessels

to prevent them from entering the fishing zone, and a set schedule for fishing activities to allow the hilsa to

regenerate. There also needs to be a more efficient way of recording accurate fish landing data. Sugata also

remarked that enforcement and governmental will will be instrumental in ensuring compliance to laws.

Recommendation #15: The focused study recommended should also account for water resources

management (e.g. by determining e-flows, water allocation), as water availability, volume and quality play a

role in hilsa conservation. Furthermore, the area to be protected should be done so jointly, as ecosystems,

said Sugata, know no borders.

Although this is not in the draft recommendations, Sugata urged the research and technology transfer in

aquaculture and artificial breeding.

Comments from the panelists:

1. Hilsa policy recommendations take into account indirect agents of change, e.g. climate change,

socioeconomic factors

2. A more extensive study period would be ideal to really capture all impacts of agents of change

3. IUCN should continue to focus on the larger picture i.e. take on a ecosystems perspective on the

hilsa issue by accounting for e-flows, climate change impacts, and fish landings.

Policy Recommendations from Panel

Ms Masud Ara Mome, Department of Fisheries, Government of Bangladesh:

To sustain production levels, there needs to be active collaborative management

between Bangladesh and India. An MOU can divide and seal responsibilities.

Communications between the two countries need to be transparent and ongoing, to

share news and plans to meet national targets

Dr Vijaya kumaran, DG, Fishery Survey of India

In research, there is an important caveat: correlation does not mean

causation. It is therefore important to conduct thorough, extensive,

exhaustive research to truly understand the dynamics driving declining fish

landings. For example, there needs to be a study on fish markets and the

supply chain.

- While formulating the joint action plan, policymakers need to keep in

mind that each country would have different political priorities.

Dr C Vasudevappa Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India

- In research, the whole ecosystem should be taken into

consideration. There could also be research on other fish species,

not just the hilsa.

- Community participation should be included in the joint action plan.

- It would a lso be good to study the nutritional value of the hilsa for

scientific proof of the adequacy of the hilsa as a source of protein.

The findings of a nutritional cost-benefit analysis could propel policy

towards alternative food sources.

- Fishing in international waters could be controlled through

- International conventions.

- It would be beneficial to conduct research on the hilsa market to determine if there are any a)

possibilities of introducing a value added system to increase the value of the hilsa and b)

improvements for the hilsa supply chain

Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks by Ganesh Pangare and Istiaq Uddin Ahmad

Ganesh Pangare thanked the audience for their

comments and input, and remarked that while

the focus of this particular meeting is on the

hilsa, the hilsa is a flagship s pecies and further

studies will consider the entire riverine

ecosystem. Ganesh also remarked that this

meeting is the first step of many, and IUCN will

continue its policy advocacy efforts. Finally, Istiaq

Uddin Ahmad, Country representative, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office thanked the audience and

emphasized that the dialogue today has been fruitful as it received input from all stakeholders, not just

specialists.

Policy dialogue closed.

Annex 1 Trans‐boundary Policy Dialogue on Hilsa Fisheries Management 

Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh‐India Initiative Date: 24 July 2012 

Venue: Indi Smart Hotel, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India 

Programme 

Time  Session

09:30 AM – 10:00 AM  Registration 

Inauguration (10:00 AM – 11:05 AM)Session Chair: Dr Subesh K Das, Principal Secretary Forests, Government of West Bengal 

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM  Welcome address Professor A P Sharma, Director, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, India 

10:10 AM – 10:25 AM  Introduction  to  the  Project  and  objective  of  the  policy  dialogue  by Mr. Ganesh  Pangare, Head, Water Programme, IUCN Asia 

10:25 AM – 10:35 AM  Speech by Guest of Honour Mr. Md. Mokbul Hossain, Honourable Member of Parliament, Bangladesh and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Ministry of the Fisheries and Livestock, Government Republic of Bangladesh 

10:35 AM – 10:45 AM  Speech by Guest of Honour Mr. Zafar Iqbal Siddique, Honourable Member of Parliament, Bangladesh and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Ministry of the Fisheries and Livestock, Government Republic of Bangladesh 

10:45 AM – 10:55 AM  Speech  by Guest  of Honour Mr  Subrata  Saha, Honourable Minister  of  State, Department  of  Fisheries, Government of West Bengal 

10:55 AM – 11:05 AM  Speech by Chair Dr Subesh K Das, Principal Secretary Forests, Government of West Bengal

11:05 AM – 11:30 AM  Tea break  

Plenary session 1: Current status of Hilsa fisheries management (11:30 AM – 01:15 PM) Session Chair: Dr. K. Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India 

11:30 AM – 11:50 AM  Presentation  on  JRT  research  findings  on  Hilsa study  by  Dr.  Utpal  Bhowmik,  Head,  Riverine  Ecology, Central  Inland  Fisheries  Research  Institute  and  Prof.  Dr.  Dewan  Ali  Ahsan,  Chairman,  Department  of Fisheries, Dhaka University 

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM  Overview  of  Hilsa  fisheries  management  in  Bangladesh  by  Mr.  M.  Shamsul  Kibria, Joint  Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh 

12:00 PM – 12:10 PM  Overview of Hilsa fisheries management in India by Dr. C Vasudepappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India 

12:10 PM – 12:40 PM  Sharing experience by Hilsa fishermen: Bangladesh and Indian fishermen representatives (4 pers)

12:40 PM – 01:10 PM  Open discussion by participants

01:10 PM – 01:20 PM  Summarize by Chair Dr. K. Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India 

01:20 PM – 02:00 PM  Lunch break 

Plenary session 2: Joint action plan on Hilsa fisheries management (02:00 PM – 04:30 PM)Session Chair: Dr Sailendranath Biswas, Deputy Director Fisheries, Government of West Bengal 

02:00 PM – 02:20 AM  Presentation on Policy Recommendations of JRT Hilsa study by Prof. Sugata Hazra, Director, Department of  Oceanography,  Jadavpur  University  and  Prof.  Dr.  Niamul  Naser,  Department  of  Zoology,  Dhaka University 

02:20 PM – 03:20 PM  Open discussion by participants

03:20 PM – 03:30 PM  Summarize by Chair Dr Sailendranath Biswas, Deputy Director Fisheries, Government of West Bengal

03:30 PM – 04.00 PM  Tea break 

04:00 PM – 04:20 PM  Joint action plan on Hilsa fisheries managementby 

Mr. M.  Shamsul  Kibria,  Joint  Secretary  (Fisheries), Ministry  of  Fisheries  and  Livestock, Government  of Bangladesh, Ministry of the Fisheries and Livestock, Government Republic of Bangladesh  Mr. Dr. K. Vijay Kumaran, Director General, Fisheries Survey of India  Dr. C Vasudepappa, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India  Facilitator Mr. Ganesh Pangare, Head, Water Programme, IUCN Asia 

04:20 PM – 04:30 PM  Vote of Thanks by Mr. Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh

Annex 2

Introduction to the Project and objective of the policy dialogue

Mr. Ganesh Pangare, Head, Water Programme, IUCN Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation on JRT research findings on Hilsa study

Dr. Utpal Bhowmik, Head, Riverine Ecology, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute and

Prof. Dr. Dewan Ali Ahsan, Chairman, Department of Fisheries, Dhaka University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Dr. Dewan Ali Ahsan, Chairman, Department of Fisheries, Dhaka University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview of Hilsa fisheries management in Bangladesh

Mr. M. Shamsul Kibria, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation on Policy Recommendations of JRT Hilsa study

Prof. Sugata Hazra, Director, Department of Oceanography, Jadavpur University and Prof. Dr. Niamul Naser, Department of Zoology, Dhaka University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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