Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim has said that the government’s plan is to ensure supply of safe and healthy fish to everyone.
The minister came up with the statement at a press briefing held at the meeting room of the Fisheries Department at the Fisheries Building in the capital on Saturday, the first day of National Fisheries Week.
Stating that the government has been able to bring massive changes in the fisheries sector, the Minister said that the government is now aiming to produce fish safe for everyone, reports UNB.
“This year’s National Fisheries Week will be celebrated between July 23 and July 29 keeping this aim in mind,” Rezaul said.
Fish production in the country has more than doubled in last 16 years. At present, the fisheries sector contributes 3.57 per cent to the country’s overall GDP and 26.50 per cent to the agricultural GDP. Besides, Bangladesh is at third position in fish farming in open water and at fifth position regarding fish farming in closed water.
“All of these developments have been possible due to the goodwill of entrepreneurs and patronage from the government,” said Rezaul.
Rezaul added that scientists at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute in Mymensingh have brought back a total of 36 fish species from extinction.
“Exploratory ships are conducting research in the Bay of Bengal to learn what types of fishes constitute the aquatic life there. Shrimp has been recognized as a Geographically Indicated (GI) product. We’re currently exporting fish to 52 countries of the world,” added Rezaul.
“The government has established three modern laboratories to control the quality of fishes. All these developments indicate the revolution that is going on in the country’s fisheries sector,” Rezaul further said.
The Minister also said that Bangladesh is among the three countries which have been successful in producing fishes during tough times like the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This has been possible because the government has provided incentives to the fish farmers and fought both domestic and international crises regarding fish production during the Covid-19 period,” said Rezaul.
The Minister mentioned that Bangladesh produced 299,000 tonnes of Hilsha fish in FY 2008-09, which has increased to 5,65,000 tonnes by FY2020-21.
“The government is working to increase Hilsha production so that people from all walks of life can taste the fish,” said Rezaul.