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Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has stressed strict quality control at every stage of fish production and compliance with prescribed standards to boost Bangladesh’s fish exports to international markets.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Fisheries Resources for Building a Self-Reliant Bangladesh: Current Situation and Future Actions”, organised by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council on Monday (August 17).
The minister said the global food market is now driven more by demand for safe and quality food than by shortages. Bangladesh must therefore ensure the production of safe and high-quality fish, he said.
He said policymakers should assess the current challenges and future prospects of the fisheries sector, as well as consumer demand in domestic and international markets, before determining priorities.
“Rapid progress in the fisheries sector is possible if problems are identified and addressed on a priority basis,” he said.
The minister stressed the need to establish adequate fish sanctuaries to increase natural breeding and production. Excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers, along with other environmental pressures, is disrupting natural fish production and breeding, he said.
He called for environmentally friendly and modern production methods and urged fish farmers to make greater use of technology to increase production in limited spaces.
Highlighting the export potential of Bangladesh’s fisheries products, Amin said there is strong demand for freshwater fish among Bangladeshis living abroad.
However, he said exporters should not focus solely on the preferences of Bangladeshi consumers. Fish should also be produced according to the tastes and demand of consumers in destination countries to increase foreign exchange earnings.
The minister also highlighted the export potential of shrimp, crab, eel and other aquatic products. He stressed improving hatchery and breeding systems alongside production, saying modern technologies for artificial breeding and rearing could significantly increase production and exports.
Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku MP, speaking as a special guest, said suitable environments for fish growth and breeding must be ensured to increase production.
He said encroachment on rivers and canals, navigability problems and water pollution caused by industrial waste are disrupting fish habitats and breeding grounds.
Restoring fish habitats requires maintaining the navigability of rivers and canals and reconnecting canals with rivers, he said. He expressed hope that a plan to re-excavate around 20,000 kilometres of canals and rivers would help create suitable environments for fish breeding and movement.
Tuku also expressed concern over the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in fish farming, saying unnecessary antibiotic use was causing economic losses for farmers and creating food safety risks.
He said initiatives would be taken to organise district-level seminars and workshops to raise farmers’ awareness about responsible antibiotic use.
BFRI Director General Dr Md Latiful Islam chaired the seminar. Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak, Department of Livestock Services Director General Md Shahjahan Khan, senior ministry officials, university teachers and BFRI scientists attended the event.
BFRI Senior Scientific Officer Dr Md Mashiur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the seminar.
