Indigenous fish species on the verge of extinction

Our Correspondent | Published: July 21, 2018 21:24:15 | Updated: July 22, 2018 16:10:12

MAGURA, July 21: Once the district was enriched by varieties of fishes.
History tells the district was named Magura due to abundant production of Magur fish in the open waterbodies.
But the scenario has changed. Now, many indigenous fish species are on the verge of extinction in the district.
District Fisheries office sources said about 20 species of indigenous fishes are fighting for survival.
Production of fishes like Aeir, Tatkiny, Batashi, Roina, Gozar, Kazori, Kholsha and Sharputi has been reduced drastically.
Five rivers -- Nabaganga, Kumar, Gorai, Fatki and Chitra -- have lost navigability.
Due to absence of normal flow of water in the rivers, fish output is reducing sharply.
Shafiqur Rahman, executive director of Palli Prokrity, an NGO, said, "Reduction of fish output is alarming for us. Indigenous fishes are also a part of our glorious heritage. We should adopt proper planning to save our indigenous fish resources,"
District fishery officer Narayan Chandra Dash said many indigenous fish species are on the verge of the extinction. We are working to ensure safe shelter of the fish species to increase output."
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