An Introductory Study of Fish Biodiversity and Fishing Practices in the Betna River of Southwestern Bangladesh

The present research was conducted as a preliminary study to assess the status of fish biodiversity and the existing fishing practices of the Betna River of Satkhira district in southwestern Bangladesh. The study was carried out for a period of twelve months from January to December 2014 on the basis of primary observations, questionnaire interviews with fishers, focus group discussions (FGD) with river bank community members and cross-check interviews with key informants. The study revealed that a total of forty-six (46) species of fish and shell fish belonging to twenty one (21) common groups were identified in the catches of the Betna River. The highest and lowest fisheries species were recorded as shrimp (17.05%) and mullet (1.77%), respectively. The other dominant species were snakehead fish (13.27%), Indian major carps (10.94%), small prawn (9.85%), spiny eel (5.50%), and catfish (5.9%). In addition, the fishers of the Betna River were categorized into three groups namely professional, seasonal, and subsistence fisherman and they used seven (7) types of fishing gears for catching fish. The resources of the river are facing emerging threats due to pollution, hay siltation and over exploitation. So, proper management is urgently needed to conserve the ichthyofaunal diversity of the river.