Bangladesh marine fish catch falls 16.57% over five years

Bangladesh’s marine fish catch fell 16.57% over the five years through fiscal 2024-25, The Business Standard reported Oct. 26, citing Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) figures.

Small and artisanal boats caught 451,661 metric tons in 2024-25, down from 513,819 a year earlier. Industrial trawler catches increased slightly, from 114,804 to 116,651 metric tons, according to Department of Fisheries data.

Md Mokhlesur Rahman, deputy chief of the department’s marine wing, identified overfishing as a major pressure on stocks. Researchers called for better catch records, species-level stock assessments, and enforcement of fishing restrictions.

Marine sources supplied 11.12% of Bangladesh’s total fish production in 2024-25, compared with 14.74% in 2020-21. Researchers said pollution and environmental changes may contribute, but species-specific studies are needed to establish their role in the decline.