The Impact of Co-management on the Sundarbans Fisheries: Evidence from Sharankhola, Bagerhat, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Sarankhola, Bagerhat during the period from August to October, 2012 to determine the impact of co-management on the Sundarbans fisheries. At present only one co-management organization is working in the study area. The co-management organization is performing various activities to make fisheries resources of the Sarankhola, Sundarbans sustainable. Co-management initiatives included: awareness raising, alternate income generation, eco-tourism and efforts towards social mobilization. The key regulatory measures and steps of co-management included: Limited Boat License Certificate (BLC), protection of parents hilsa and protection of jatka. Integrated Resources Management Plans (IRMP) was formulated by the Forest Department for sustainable fisheries management of the Sundarbans. IRMP made two major guidelines: One was fisheries resource conservation measures and the other was fisheries improvement measures. Fisheries improvement measures in the study area were weak. The production data revealed that fish production in the Sundarbans is declining in the recent years. It is an important breeding and nursery ground of a wide range of estuarine, offshore and marine fishes and shrimps. Fisheries resource is being degraded due to lack of proper co-management of the resource. So, effective co-management activity is essential for sustainable fisheries resources conservation-management in the Sundarbans.

Keywords: Co-management, Integrated Resources Management Plans (IRMP)

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-2-07

Publication date: January 31^st 2020