Since the inception of the institute research conducted on-station and outreach on applied and adaptive nature with a range of technological variables on freshwater, brackishwater and coastal aquaculture; riverine and marine fisheries. The institute conducted research on diversified areas of fisheries and provided the scientific basis of the package practices. The FRI BD undertook research on diversified areas of fisheries includes fish breeding, improved fish culture management, development policy issues and packaged a total of 47 technologies for extension. Among the listed technologies 36 are on fish breeding and culture, 6 related to fisheries management and rest are on fisheries rules and regulations.
The major packages are improved nursery management of carp seed production, carp poly-culture, BFRI strain GIFT culture, silver barb culture, integrated farming of chicken-fish, duck-fish, rice-fish; breeding of air breathing fishes, catfishes, threatened species; development of improved high yielding varieties of carps, tilapia, silver barbs/rajpunti (Barbodes gonionotus); hatchery and nursery management, diversification of shrimp-crop rotational practices, rotation of shrimp-finfish culture in coastal ghers; pollution management of coastal and marine waters, fish- friendly modification of behundi nets (set-bag net) for marine species conservation.
The most outstanding achievements were made on carp breeding under control condition, improved hatchery and nursery system management, carp polyculture mixing with local and exotic carps, carps and prawn polyculture; culture of Small Indigenous Species (SIS) under carp polycultlure management system, hybrid progeny development of GIFT and silver barb with wild germplasm. The institute has made impressive contribution on biodiversity conservation and successfully developed packages of technology of control breeding of most threatened species namely mohashol (Tor sps.), air (Mystus sps.), pangus (Pangasius pangasius). Scientists developed genetic progeny of quality seeds for tilapia, silver barbs, carps, etc., through mass and family selection techniques. Thus, tilapia yielded 40% of higher production from earlier stock. Silver barbs, progeny of Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesian strain showed 35% increased yields. Similarly, carps yields increased to 12% with seeds produced from wild stock of Halda, Jamuna and Brahmaputra rivers.
Hilsa fisheries remain the most important fish in the riverine and capture fisheries. Over the decade (1987-88 to 2002-03) the production and supply remained static with minor variation of increase and/or decrease. In the years 1999-2002, the hilsa fishery showed declines as much as 60%. Based on continuous research on migratory routes and behavior, identification of grazing areas for jatka (hilsa fingerlings), areas demarcation for sanctuary for hilsa fishery, scientists provided scientific information on conservation and management of this important fishery. As a result the reversal train showed in the decline and production increased from 1.99 lakh m mt in 2002-2003 to 2.9 lakh m mt in 2007-2008, with marked increased of 46%.
Brackishwater fisheries research and achievements are significant in terms of its technological development and production enhancement. Until recently, shrimp (including bagda, Microbrachium rogenbergii ) culture spread over in 2.17 lac ha of several coastal areas. The average production from shrimp farm is 200kg/ha which is still low comparing to the neighboring countries. Scientists demonstrated rotational shrimp and rice-fish culture system and yield rose to 400-600kg/ha shrimp, 4-5t/ha rice, 70-90kh/ha prawn with 190-260kh/ha white fish from same field in a year. Under improved management systems the production recorded as much as 700-800kg/ha/120 days culture cycle. To develop sustainable and environment-friendly shrimp fields’ scientists has already made observation on crop diversification in coastal aquaculture, integrated crab-fish fattening and early brooding of shrimp under ‘Green House’ system.
Marine sector includes artisan and trawl fisheries and share 19.41% (2007-08) of total production. Similar to inland capture source, the coastal and marine fisheries are of a commercial focus. Controversies arisen in discussion regarding growth of marine sector. Globally marine stocks are in decline and those in Bangladesh are no different and the resources have reached their maximum sustainable yields. This is mostly the result of unregulated fishing and ignoring lack of scientific management. To support the marine sector the scientists demonstrated notable progress in research and technology innovation. The important achievements are as follows:
- Culture and brood development of sea bass (Lates calcarifer ), mullets (mugil sps.)
- Development of low cost health friendly Sun Dryer for fish drying
- Development of improved device of behundi net (set-bag-net)
The Marine Fisheries and Technological Station focuses research on pollution, stock assessment, breeding and culture of selected finfish, improvement of post harvest processing and product development and socioeconomic survey of fishers.
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