A total of 670 fish enclosures have been washed away by the heavy rainfall recently resulting into a loss of around Tk80 crore in Abhaynagar upazila of Jessore.
Sources at the Abhaynagar Department of Fisheries said the heavy rainfall that started from July 8 overflew all the water bodies in Bhabadaha area. Poor drainage system added to the plight of fish farmers.
Different types of fishes weighing around 163 metric tonnes were carried away by the heavy waves, particularly during high tide.
The total loss has been estimated to be Tk80 crore so far which can soar up to Tk100 crore, fears Senior Fisheries Officer Md Anisur Rahman of the upazila.
Locals said rainwater usually passes through Mukteshwari, Sree, Hori and Teka rivers in Bhabadaha area.
However, this year, during high tide the canals were full. Therefore, rainwater could not squeeze out through the Bhabadaha sluice gate over the Sree River. As a result, severe water logging was created in surrounding areas.
According to Abhaynagar fisheries department, there are 2,286.97 hectre of open water bodies and 5,922.37 hectre closed water bodies in the upazila.
The annual demand for fishes in the upazila is 5,364 metric tonnes (per head 20 kg). The annual production usually stands at 17,244 metric tonnes. But due to the massive loss, this year the fish produced will be highly insufficient to meet the demand.
In Abhoynagar, Monirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Bhabadaha area, all the fish enclosures were marooned, said local fish farmers. They lamented that they might become bankrupt.
Mizanur Rahman, owner of a fish enclosure in Dhopadi village under Abhaynagar, said: “I had built the enclosure last year by selling my cattle and taking loans from the bank. Due to scarcity of capital, I could not even feed the fishes properly so I incurred losses. I hoped to profit this year. But now the enclosure has gone under water. I guess I have to live on the road now.” Rabiul Hoque, another fish farmer of the village echoed with Mizan.
Enclosures set up on 26 canals including Shondhar Beel, Beel Gandhimara, Dumurtolar Beel, Beel Jhikra, Bagda Beel, and Coat Beel were inundated. Although farmers tried to place plastic nets by the side of the enclosures, the gusty wind and heavy waves damaged those too.
“Abhaynagar is abundant in fishes. We have incurred a great loss. But we are trying different ways to recoup that,” said Senior Fisheries Officer Md Anisur Rahman.
