Foreign hybrid species of fish are taking room in the water bodies of Sunamganj for their ‘cost-effective farming’ in place of the protein-rich indigenous ones.
Relatively higher profit from the hybrid fish species, especially for their faster growth, is luring the local fish farmers away to their cultivation from the local fish varieties, reports UNB.
Farming of the foreign fish species using modern technology and training is largely helping youths of the district gain economic self-sufficiency.
To get rid of the curse of unemployment, youths of the district dig farmlands into ponds and cultivate the foreign fishes there.
The hybrid fish species have opened up income opportunity for the youth section of the district, though at the cost of protein in the indigenous fish resources which Sunamganj was once bountiful with.
Local fish varieties have immense high nutritional values and protein which are absent in the foreign fish species.
Their deficiency is considered to be main reasons of various diseases.
Apart, local fish varieties are better in quality and taste than the foreign ones.
During a recent visit, it was found that locals were cultivating foreign fish in the water bodies in a large scale.
As a result, a few species of local fish are on the way of disappearing and their production is also becoming less.
Fishermen and conscious quarters apprehend that this would lead to denudation of the local fish resources in most haor-baor, canals, rivers and rivulets and ditches.
Natural water fish, stone and paddy are the lifeblood of Sunamganj.
The district is storehouse of natural, mineral and forest resources.
But due to lack of appropriate planning and government indifference, proper utilisation of these resources is not being possible.
As a result, remote areas of 11 uazilas of the district are being deprived of development.
