Bagerhat shrimp farmers counting losses

Shrimp farmers in the district are counting losses in the wake of a cruel double blow that severely depleted their stocks of the fish known as ‘white gold’.

Barely one and a half months ago, shrimp worth Tk 250 million died in different parts of the district due to oxygen shortage following heavy rain. With shrimp farmers still reeling from the huge losses, cyclone Bulbul unleashed its fury in the coastal districts on 10 November, dealing another blow to the shrimp farmers here.

Around 7,500 enclosures were damaged by the cyclonic storm in the district with gushing water washing away different species of white fish, including prawn, and putting the livelihoods of the farmers on edge.

The tidal surge which Bulbul brought with it broke the banks of the enclosures while uprooted trees fell into those in many places, resulting in the pollution of water as tree leaves rotted beneath water.

According to sources at the district fisheries office, a Tk 250 million shrimp, known as the ‘white gold’ of Bangladesh due to its lucrative export value, died due to oxygen shortage after heavy rain swept the district on 22 September last.

Already facing huge losses, cyclone Bulbul came as a double blow for the shrimp farmers in different upazilas, including Sadar, Chitalmari, Fakirhat and Mongla, the district.

District fisheries officer M Khaled Kanak said a total of 7,334 fish enclosures covering an area of 2,851 hectares were damaged by Bulbul. “Shrimp and white fish were washed away by water,” he said estimating the financial loss at Tk 30 million.

Seven boats and 4,425 metres of net of fishermen were also taken away by the water, he said, adding that Mongla was hit hard.

Visiting different areas, including Charbaniayari, Krishnanagar and Kharamkhali in Chitalmari and Daharmoubhog and Faltita in Fakirhat, it was found that the fish enclosures were still bearing the trail of destruction left behind by the cyclone.

Uprooted trees were still found dumped in enclosures in some places. As a result, tree leaves got rotten under the water and a stinky smell was coming out.

Besides, dead fish were found floating in some enclosures.

Santosh Kumar Basu, a fish farmer of Krishnanagar, said prawns worth Tk several hundred thousands were washed away from his enclosure by gushing water during the cyclone.

Dulal Roy of Charbaniyari said trees fell into fish enclosures at several places of their village. “Fish are dying as the water got polluted after tree leaves got rotten.”

Nitish Dhali of Daharmoubhog said incessant rain due to the cyclone broke down the banks of the enclosures, washing away shrimp.

President of Bagerhat Shrimp Farmers’ Association Fakir Mohitul Islam said white fish, including prawns, were washed away from enclosures in different areas of the district after Bulbul lashed the coastal districts.

Besides, huge shrimp died due to virus attack and oxygen failure earlier, he said, adding that the shrimp industry might face a Tk 100 million loss here due to the cyclone.

Fisheries experts said shrimp farming is badly affected due to the climate change. Shrimp dies due to oxygen failure following heavy rain after a drought for a long period.

It also dies after being affected by virus and for farming too much fish than the area of the enclosure, they said, recommending that the shrimp be farmed in a scientific way to get better outputs.

According to sources at the district fisheries office, there are 78,709 fish enclosures on 66,729 hectares of land in the district.

The number of fish farmers in the district is 67,557 while that of fishermen is 39,624.