Fishing gears used by the Fishers at Rupsha River in Khulna District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Rupsha is one of the most famous rivers in Bangladesh and endures country’s important multi-species commercial fishery. The present study was conducted to assess the operation of used fishing gears of the fishermen in the Rupsha River during the period from February 2011 to January, 2012. A wide variety of fishing gears were operated throughout the year in the study area for commercial fishing. A total of 2 gill net, 1 fixed purse net, 1 cast net, 1 dip net, 2 traps, 2 hooks and lines and 2 wounding gears were found in the study area. But a number of the fishing gears was found to catch fish irrespective of their size or species and destroys the habitat of the wild species. An awareness or training program should be conducted to the fishermen to create awareness of the long-term effects of different fishing gears and to impart knowledge of fishing laws.