Civil society and experts have called for urgent legal reforms and increased support to protect Bangladesh’s 20 million small-scale fishers, emphasizing the need for sustainable policies and fair trade practices to safeguard their livelihoods.
This call came at a seminar organized by COAST Foundation, with support from SwedBio and Sustainable Development Foundation, Thailand, held today at the CIRDAP Auditorium. Moderated by COAST Foundation Executive Director M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the session gathered government officials, fisheries experts, and community leaders to address the challenges facing small-scale fishers, read a press release.
In his keynote speech, Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director of COAST Foundation, highlighted the critical contributions of small-scale fishers, who contribute 3.5% to Bangladesh’s GDP. He underscored the need for their legal recognition to ensure targeted policies and adequate support. Bhowmik also raised concerns about gender wage disparities, limited market access, and the effects of fishing ban periods on communities, urging the government not to sign the WTO agreement on subsidy restrictions.
Farida Akthar, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, attended as chief guest and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to expanding policies to support these communities. She advocated for inter-ministerial coordination to address illegal fishing practices and river pollution. The ministry, she shared, has initiated a pilot program to provide 50 kg of rice per fisher household during fishing bans, up from the current 40 kg.
Department of Fisheries officials also presented various initiatives to strengthen support. Borun Chandra Biswas proposed that all wetlands be placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, with extended lease terms to benefit fishing communities. Md. Zia Haider Chowdhury, Director of the Department, affirmed that the government is working to increase rice allocations during fishing bans and to tackle exploitative lending practices faced by fishers.
Representatives from WorldFish, RDRS Bangladesh, and AFA highlighted the need for formal credit systems, youth entrepreneurship programs, and cooperative models to foster economic resilience within the fishing communities. Md. Younus Ali from the SAARC Agricultural Center proposed creating an Advocacy Forum to raise global awareness about small-scale fishing challenges.
Local fisher representative Sarmin Akter shared personal accounts of hardship due to natural disasters and limited support, stressing the need for financial assistance beyond rice allocations. Meanwhile, Md. Abul Hasanat from FAO recommended reclassifying Hilsa as an inland fish under WTO guidelines to exempt it from marine subsidy restrictions, protecting a critical source of income for river fishers.
The seminar concluded with calls for good governance, sustainable trade practices, and regional collaboration to protect Bangladesh’s marine resources and secure the livelihoods of small-scale fishers.
