Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the officials and employees of the fisheries department and people concerned to enhance their working spirit for development of the sector.
The premier made statement while inaugurating the National Fisheries Week 2014 in a function held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Wednesday morning, reports BSS.
She also called for enhancing public awareness on conservation of all varieties of fishes in flooded areas and natural water bodies and laying importance on ensuring strict execution of the existing laws in this regard.
Sheikh Hasina said, celebration of the fisheries week every year is making immense contribution to protecting and increasing production of fishery resources.
'Maachhey- Bhatey Bangali' (Bangali live on rice and fish),- this maxim was possible due to our many rivers, haors, ponds and huge flooded areas and natural water bodies during rainy season
as well as fertile agriculture land.
Many of those low lying areas, flood flow zones and ponds were filled up because of negligence for a long time, she said.
The habitats and spawning grounds of fishes have reduced over the years due to pesticides, urban and industrial pollution, unplanned construction of roads and embankments. "Harvesting of fish fries, gravid and broods led to loss of fisheries output to expected level," she said.
Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Saidul Haque, state minister Narayan Chandra Chanda and secretary of the ministry Dr Selina Afroza were present.
Terming this year's theme "Anna Bastra Basasthan, Maachh Chashey Samadhan" (Food, Clothing, Housing: Fisheries is Solution) was very much time-befitting one, the Prime Minister said, natural production of fishes are increasing day by day.
Now thirty percent of fishes are produced naturally, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said, her government taking office in 2009 has attached special importance to the fisheries sector aimed at fulfilling public's nutritional demand, creating employment opportunity, poverty alleviation and earning foreign exchange.
In this regard the prime minister pointed out the enactment of the laws enacted by her government for development of the fisheries sector including the Government Water Bodies Management
Policy- 2009, Fisheries Hatchery Act-2010 and Fish Food and Animal Food Act-2010, framing of the Guideline of Micro credit for Fisheries Sector and Shrimp Plot Renewal and Lease Policy-2013.
Sheikh Hasina said, navigability of the Modhumoti, Gorai, Jamuna, Buriganga and Kushiyara rivers were improved through capital dredging. Water flow in the south-western part of the country has been increased and salinity has decreased due to the dredging of the Gorai and Modhumoti rivers.
As a result biodiversity of the Sundarbans and adjacent areas has been improved along with increasing the number of safe habitats of fishes, she added.
Pointing to the resolution of the dispute with Myanmar regarding the maritime boundary, the Prime Minister said, it helped Bangladesh establish sovereignty on 1,11,631 square kilometre areas.
"The government has multifaceted initiatives for development of the fisheries resource and its exploitation from this vast area," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said, fish production increased by eight lakh metric tonnes over the last five years enhancing daily average public intake of fish to 52 gram from 45 gram.
She said, the government has taken effective measures for increasing production of the national fish Hilsha through protecting Jatka and gravid fishes. "The government has provided the fishermen with 1,22,925 tonnes of food," she added.
The prime minister said, three modern labs were established in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna for quality control of exportable varieties of fishes while setting up of an internationally standard reference lab is near completion.
She said, Bangladesh now has enough efficient workforce for fish processing. They were equipped with necessary training. As a result, demands of shrimp in the export market is rising.
Sheikh Hasina said, once the fishermen was a neglected section in the society. We have changed the situation. Around two lakh fishermen were given ID card to reach the benefits of the government to their hand, the prime minister said.