Aquatic Biodiversity in Bangladesh: Ecosystem and Species

Mostafa Hossain Dept. of Fish. Biology and Genetics Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh

Bangladesh has a unique position in the sub-tropical region, within the delta of three great rivers - The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna (covering an area of 14.30 million hectares) The country is very rich in biodiversity The vast wet-lands, wide river-fed systems, high rainfall and warm temperature play a significant role in the diversity of countrys ecosystem Based on rainfall Bangladesh can be stratified into three zones. Areas receiving average rainfall between 1,500 to 2000 mm, 2000 to 3,000 mm, and more than 3,000 mm.

from the time immemorial, Bangladesh is called country of hundred rivers rivers

it has -

290 rivers (of which 54 are international) and numerous ponds, beels, haors, baors, lakes, flood plains, brakish and marine water bodies

Tista

Brahmaputra

Jamuna

Ganges Padma Meghna Padma Garai Arial Khan Meghna Halda Kaptai Karnaphuli Lake

Surma Brahmaputra

main rivers and river-basins

none of the major rivers of Bangladesh originates within its territory country has five major river systems i. the Ganges or Padma and its deltaic streams ii. the Meghna and the Surma river system iii. the Jamuna and its adjoining channels iv. the North Bengal rivers v. the rivers of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the adjoining plains

the Ganges River system is divided into two segments, the Ganges and the Padma the Meghna river is the union of the Sylhet-Surma and Kusiyara rivers. the Jamuna and its adjoining channels span a large area from north-central Bangladesh to the Meghna River in the southeast The Tista is the most important water carrier of north-western Bangladesh that meets the Jamuna The Feni, the Karnaphuli, the Sangu, and the Matamuhari are the four main rivers that constitute the river system of the Chittagong Hills and the adjoining plains of Bangladesh

the famous man-made Kaptai lake (680 sq. km) formed by damming the Karnaphuli river, home of many aquatic species and wild life. from the view point of aquatic biodiversity it is a very important lake in Bangladesh

Water area and species

Inland waters: 4.31 million ha (260 freshwater fish sp., 12 exotic sp. and 24 prawn species.). Total production 0.827 million tons (67% capture fishery and 33% culture fishery) Coastal waters: 2.61 million ha Marine waters: 1.66 million km2 (475 marine fish sp. and 36 shrimp sp.)

Water Resources for Inland Aquaculture

Waterbodies Pond and ditches Ox bow lakes or baors Coastal shrimp farms Total closed waters

ha 241,500 5,488 141,353 388,341

Extent of different type of habitats

Types of water body
a) Inland open waters 1. Rivers (during dry season) The Ganges The Padma The Jamuna The Meghna (upper) The Meghna (lower) Other rivers and canals 2. Estuarine area 3. Beels and haors 4. Kaptai Lake 5. Inundated flood plains (seasonal) b) Closed waters 1. Ponds and tanks 2. Baors (ox-bow lakes) 3. Brakish water farms c) Marine waters 1. Exclusive economic zones

Area (ha)

27,165 42,325 73,666 33,592 40,407 262,580

479,735
551,828 114,161 68,800 5,486,609

6,221,398
146,890 5,488 108,000

260,378 70,000 km
2

resource Potential of Freshwater Aquaculture

1. Open inland waters
Beels and haors Rivers and Estuaries Kaptai lake Flood plain Polder/Encloser

: 4,492,316 ha
: : : : : 114,161 1,031,563 68,800 2,832,792 876,000

2. Closed waters
Pond and ditches Ox-bow lakes or baors

: 361,841
: 215,000 : 5,488

Coastal aquaculture (Shrimp farm) : 141,353

gradual development in freshwater aquaculture

649,092

700,000 600,000

Fish production (m. t)

500,000
379,087

400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0

120,000 144,723

210,993

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

Year

Open water (capture) Closed water (culture) Marine water

21%

39%

40% contribution of different sub-sectors to total production (1999-2000)

Total fish production in Bangladesh

Type
Freshwater Aquaculture Coastal Aquaculture Inland capture (Hilsa) Inland capture (carps) Inland capture (SIS) Marine capture Total catch

Amount in million
0.62 0.09 0.23 0.21 0.27 0.36 1.78
Freshwater aquaculture Inland capture (Hilsa) Inland capture (SIS) Coastal aquaculture Inland capture (Large fish ) Marine capture
20% 34% 15%

6% 10% 15%

Contribution of Different Species

Fish group
Major carp Exotic carp Other carp Cat fish Snake head Live fish Other inland fish Shrimp Hilsa Other marine fish

% contribution
21.88 9.64 0.31 2.24 2.84 4.05 27.08 9.29 13.82 8.84

45000
Quantity (MT)

30000 15000 0 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99

Year Year

19992000

export of fish and fish products from Bangladesh

world fish production

million (MT) fish production: comparison between Asia and others

fisheries contribution
in GDP: in agricultural income : in export earning: in protein : in animal protein: 4.7 % 14.0 % 12.0 % 6.0% 80.0 %

permanent fishermen/women: 1.4 million (0.76 million freshwater and 0.52 million marine)

Contribution of Fisheries
FISHERMEN i) Inland Fishermen ii) Marine Fishermen FISH FARMERS i) Fish Farmers ii) Shrimp Farmers : 1,280,000 : 770,000 : 510,000 : 3.08 million : 1.93 million : 1.15 million

FISHERIES IN GDP i) Fisheries Value in the GDP : Tk. 103 billions (Appx.) ii) Contribution to GDP : 3.4% FISH INTAKE & DEMAND i) Per capita Annual Fish Intake : 12.04 kg. ii) Per Capita Annual Fish needed : 18.0 kg. iii) Annual Total Fish Demand : 2.3 million mt. iv) Contribution to Animal Protein Supply : 63 %

Biodiversity of aquatic animals

Animal groups Habitat Species Animal groups Habitat Species

Shrimp Crabs Lobsters Molluscs Fish FM M F M F M F F M F F M 56 11 4 6 26 301 260 13 exotic 475 10 24 4
Crocodiles Ghorial Snakes Birds Otters Whale Porpoise Dolphin F M F F M FM FM M F F M 1 1 1 6 18 200 3 3 1 1 8

Frogs Turtle and Tortoise

F: Freshwater & M: Marine

among the molluscs 10 are pearl-bearing bivalves among the turtle and tortoise 25 are edible crabs - Scylla serrata (Giant mud crab), Portunus pelagics and P. sanguinolentus are commercially very important lobsters - Panulirus polyphagus and Scyllarus nearctus are abundantly available in the waters of St. Martin Island and Teknaf and have a very high commercial value 7 species of squids and 2 species of cuttle fish are also very important

fish biodiversity in Bangladesh

the major dominant fish groups are 1. Indian major carps 2. Large catfishes 3. Minor carps 4. Small catfishes 5. River shads 6. Snake heads 7. Freshwater eels 8. Feather backs 9. Rays 10. Parches 11. Loaches 12. Anchovies 13. Gobies 14. Glass fishes 15. Mullets 16. Minnows and barbs 17. Pompfrates 18. Flounders

status of fish biodiversity status of fish biodiversity

recent studies have shown that the number of freshwater species have been gradually declining some species have become locally extinct there was a greater reduction in diversity of migratory fishes than resident ones about 12 fish species including mohashole, nandina, cheng, gochi and gozar are being considered as endangered/threatened due to their gradual disappearance from the water bodies

many fish species once abundant have now become rare, such as Group Scientific name
Labeo gonius Labeo nandina Cirrhina reba Carp Puntius sarana Tor tor Tor putitora Pangasius pangasius Mystus cavasisus Batasio tengra Catfish Ompok pabda Ailia coilia Ompok bimaculatus Ailichthys punctata

Local name Group Scientific name

Gonia Nandina Bata Sarputi Mohashol Mohasher Pangus Gulsa tengra Tengra Modhu pabda Bashpata Boli pabda Kajali

Local name

Botia daryo Rani Loach Lepidocephalus guntea Gutum Macrognathus aculeatus Tara baim Spiny eel Mastacembelus pancalus Chirka Nandus nandus Meni/bheda Parch Badis badis Napit koi Colisa fasciata Khalisa Gauramy Colisa lalius Lal khalisa Chanda nama Lamba chanda Parchlet Chanda ranga Lal chanda Mullet Rhinomugil corsula Khorolla