Appendix 11. Improvement of hilsa (hilsa ilisha) fishing gears and crafts of the Meghna river.

RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

1. Institute Code No.

2. Name and Address of Research Institute/Centre:

Fisheries Research Institute, Riverine Station, Chandpur.

3. Title of the Project: Improvement of hilsa (Hilsa ilisha) fishing gears and crafts of the Meghna river.

4. Title of the Individual Studies and Experiments:

i) Studies on the different types of gear used for hilsa fishing in different locations.

ii) Studies on the gear selectivity, catch per unit of efforts, catch composition and fishing season for each type of gear.

iii) Comparative studies on the fishing efficiency of traditional gear with that of the experimental gear.

iv) Studies on the types of crafts used for operating different types of fishing gears.

v) Comparative studies on the fishing efficiency of mechanized and non mechanized fishing crafts.

5. Name and Designation of the Principal Investigation:

Dr. G.C. Haldar, CSO, FRI, Riverine Station, Chandpur.

6. Name and Designation of Project Leader and Associates Together with Time Proposed & Work to be done:

Sl No.	Name	Designation	Time (m/m)	Work to be done
1)	Dr. G.C. Haldar	CSO	10	Project direction
2)	Mr. A.K. Yosuf Haroon	SSO	20	Overall supervision
3)	To be appointed	SO	60	Supervise & conduct experiment on fishing gear.
4)	To be appointed	SO	60	Supervise & conduct experiment on fishing craft.
5)	To be appointed	SO	60	Supervise & monitor catch data.
6)	To be appointed,	Field Assistant (3)	180	To assist in field works.
7)	To be appointed,	Fishermen (2)	120	Operating and mending gear.
8)	To be appointed,	Master role labour (3)	180	To assist in field works.

7. Location of Research Project with Complete Address:

Fisheries Research Institute, Riverine Station, Chandpur.

8.1 Objectives of the Studies:

a) To determine the types of gear used for catching hilsa and their fishing efficiency and gear selectivity.

b) To determine the hanging coefficient, floats and sinkers attaching intervals and their effect on fishing efficiency.

c) To determine the mesh size and size composition of catch, and catch per unit of effort for each types of gear.

d) To determine the efficiency of craft used for operating different types of fishing gear.

e) To determine the optimum mesh size, diameter of twine and hanging coefficient for the most commonly used fishing gears so as to improve their fishing efficiency.

f) To improve the fishing efficiency of commonly used craft through mechanization with appropriate low cost engine.

g) To recommend efficient fishing gears and restrict the use of destructive gears.

8.2 Output: The results of the above studies will help to develop the efficient gears and crafts and to bring uniformity in their use. Study will also help in eliminating the less efficient and destructive ones.

8.3 Practical Utility: The desirable and uniformed gears will help to optimize the exploitation of fish stock on a sustainable basis. Introduction of efficient gears and crafts will increase the catch of the fishermen and thereby improve their economic condition.

9. Review of the Work Done: Hilsa, (H. ilisha) is an estuarine or marine water fish which migrates from saline water to fresh water river against the current mainly for breeding purpose and also for feeding purpose. It is a commercially most important fish in Bangladesh. It contributes about 54.25% in river fish production, 14.31% in total inland open-water fish production and 48.93% in marine fish production. The Meghna river is the most important hilsa producing river which contributes about 68% to the total hilsa production from inland open-water. This fish is harvested by the fishermen using different types of gears and crafts from major rivers systems, estuaries, coastal and marine waters.

Investigation on the fishing gears and crafts was first carried out by Ahmad (1954) in this country. He recorded about 116 gears and categorized them into 9 categories viz., gill net, seine net, drag net, trawl net, purse or clasp net, fixed purse seine net, stake net, dip net and cast net. He also gave the description of 7 categories of fishing crafts. Doha (1964) also divided the fishing nets into 9 categories similar to Ahmad (1954). Later on Karim (1978) reported 3 principal types of traditional fishing boats e.g., dingi, chandi and balam boats used by the fishermen for catching fish in estuarine and marine waters. Anonymous (1985) gave description of two types of fishing boats, dinghi and chandi operated for fishing in estuaries and offshore waters. Tsai and Ali (1985) recorded 20 different types of fishing gear in the riverine carp fishery of Padma, Jamuna, Meghna and Brahmaputra. BCAS (1989) investigated the gears operated by the fishermen in 4 flowing river fisheries (Meghna fishery, Meghna-Nayabhangni fishery, Narisha-Padma fishery and Padma-Jamuna fishery) and divided the gears so far recorded into 10 categories. BCAS (1989) also gave the description of 7 fishing crafts similar to Ahmad (1954). Very recently Moula et al. (1993) investigated the fishing gears and crafts used for fishing in Meghna river and recorded 10 gears and 4 fishing crafts used by the fishermen to catch mainly H. ilisha. They have also recorded fishing season and number of fishermen for each type of fishing gear. FRI (1994) recorded similar types of fishing gears and crafts used by the fishermen to catch H. ilisha in Padma, Meghna and Meghna estuary. However, detailed studies on size, mesh size, gear selectivity and catch per unit of effort were not undertaken.

For the effective management and conservation of hilsa fishery it is important to know the gear selectivity, gear efficiency and mesh size of different gears used for hilsa fishing. All these information will also help to improve the efficiency of gears and to determine optimum mesh size for judicious exploitation of hilsa. Therefore, this project is drawn up to improve the hilsa fishing gears and crafts and to make them uniform so that the optimum exploitation and effective management of hilsa stock can be ensured.

10. Technical Programme with Activity Chart:

10 (A). Technical Programme:

The project will be based on hilsa fishing in the Meghna river. The project sites will be located in 3 regions of the Meghna river, of which one will be in Aklashpur region (Upper Meghna), one will be in between Chandpur and Hazimara regions and another will be in the Meghna estuary.

In the first year, studies will be conducted to collect data on types of gear, size of gears, types of twine and diameter used for webbing net, types of float and sinker used and their attaching intervals, hanging coefficient, mesh size and length and weight of fish caught for each type of gear in 3 regions.

Mode of operation, fishing days per week, catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and catch composition of each types of gear will be recorded. The catch per unit of effort will be expressed as kg of fish per 100 sq. meter of net area per day for seine net and gill net, and kg/day for other relatively smaller gears. Besides, time required per lift/or haul, number of lift/haul per day and catch per lift/haul will be recorded for each types of gear. Attempts will be made to record the type of craft used to operate each type of gear.

The craft size, types of wood used for construction, mode of operation (sailing, rowing and mechanization), number of fishermen per boat and total fishing days for each types of gear and craft will also be recorded. All these data will be collected once in every month from each region for a year. Collected data will be analyzed to determine the selectivity of gear and fishing efficiency.

Gear selectivity curve will be developed from the length-frequency data and L50% and selection reage (L25% to L75%) will be determined from the curve for each type of gear. L50% is the length at which 50% of the fish entering the gear are retained. Using L50% value and selection range, size selectivity of each type of gear will be evaluated. Then the damaging effect of each type of gear on hilsa stock will be assessed, and the fishing regulation on type and mesh size of gear and its fishing season will be ascertained for hilsa fishery to protect the stock from over fishing in order to obtain sustainable yield. On the basis of results 4-5 types of commonly used gear will be selected for the experiment considering their efficiency and size selectivity. Experimental gears having different mesh size, diameter of twine and hanging coefficient will be used side by side for each type of the selected gear to determine optimum mesh size, diameter of twine and hanging coefficient through comparison of catch between the selected gears and experimental gears. These experiments will be continued for 3 years, one year for each region.

Besides, experiments will be conducted on the efficiency of commonly used mechanized and non-mechanized fishing crafts to determine their fishing efficiency. The fishing efficiency of the crafts will be assessed on the basis of time required per lift/or haul, no. of lift/haul per day, catch per lift/haul, CPUE, no. of fishermen per boat and net income of per fishermen. These experiments will also be continued for 3 years similar to fishing gears.

The results thus obtained from the above experiments will serve as a basis for making necessary recommendations to improve the selected gears and crafts up to a modern standard for judicious exploitation of hilsa stock on a sustainable basis.

10(B). Workplan and Activity Chart.

Major Activity	Duration (month)
1. Collection of data on types of gear, gear size, mesh size, types of thread and diameter and fishing season.	12
2. Collection of data on duration per lift/haul, no. of lift/haul per day and fishing days per week.	12
3. Studies on hanging co-efficient, types of floats and sinkers and their attaching intervals.	12
4. Collection of data on catch effort, catch composition, length and weight of fish.	36
5. Collection of data on types of craft, craft size, mode of operation and no. of fishermen/craft.	12
6. Comparative studies on the fishing efficiency between traditional gears and experimental gears.	36
7. Comparative studies on the efficiency of mechanized and non-mechanized fishing boats.	36
8. Data compilation and preparation of final report	4

Activity Chart (5 Years)

11. Date of Start: July, 1995

12. Likely date of completion: June, 2000

13. Estimated man months:	690 m/m
CSO	10 m/m borne by FRI
SSO	20 m/m borne by FRI
SO	180 m/m to be appointed
FA	180 m/m to be appointed
FM	120 m/m to be appointed
MRL	180 m/m to be appointed

14. Facilities Required:

Research vessel, speed boat, net and net materials, computer, measuring board, balance and stationeries.

15. If financed by an organization other than the institute, then give the detailed information in terms of fund, time and personnel:

A detailed information in terms of fund, time and personnel are enclosed:

16. Approximate Cost: Tk. 30,58,360/-

Salary of the scientific staff:	Tk. 8,39,700/-
Salary of supporting staff:	Tk. 8,94,660/-
Operational cost:	Tk. 11,09,000/-
Capital cost:	Tk. 1,85,000/-
Contingencies:	Tk. 30,000/-

17. Signature of Project leader and associates:

18. Signature of C.S.O.:

19. Signature of Additional Director:

20. Signature of Director:

REFERENCES

Ahmad, N. 1954. Fishing crafts of East Pakistan. Proc. Indo-Pacific Fish. Coun. IPFC/C54/Tech. 20, 1-9 pp.

Ahmad, N. 1954. Fishing gears of East Pakistan. Pak. J. Sci., 1(3): 195-203.

Anonymous, 1985. Marine small-scale fisheries of Bangladesh. A general description, Bay of Bengal Programme, Development of small-scale fisheries, BOBP/INF/8, 4-5 pp.

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS). Final report, ENIMOF Project, Department of Fish, and Ministry of Fish and Livestock, Govt. of Bangladesh, 3-8-3-10 pp.

Doha, S. 1965. Freshwater fisheries of Pakistan. Present status and measures for development -1. Production, craft-and gear. Pak. J. Sci., 17 (2 & 3): 105-110.

FRI, 1994. Hilsa fishery development and management. Progress report (1991-1993), Fisheries Research Institute, Riverine Station, Chandpur, 1-14 pp.

Karim, M. 1978. Status and Potential of Bangladesh Fisheries. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, 1-125 pp.

Moula, G., Y. Mahmud, M.G.M. Alam and M.A. Hossain. 1993. Fishing crafts and gears of the Meghna river. Progress. Agric., 4 (1&2): 59-66.

Tsai, Chu-fa and L. Ali. 1985. Open-water Fisheries (Carp) Management Programme in Bangladesh. Fish. Inf. Bull., FAO, 2 (4): 1-51.

Total Budget at a Glance

Line Item		FY-1	FY-2	FY-3	FY-4	FY-5	Total
1.	Salary & .	3,46,872	3,46,872	3,46,872	3,46,872	3,46,872	17,34,360
	Allowances
2.	Capital	1,85,000	-	-	-	-	1,85,000
	Expenses
3.	Research	2,81,000	2,21,000	2,06,000	1,96,000	2,05,000	11,09,000
	Operational
	Expenses
4.	Contingencies	6,000	5,000	5,000	6,000	8,000	30,000
	Total	8,18,872	5,72,872	5,57,872	5,48,872	5,59,872	30,58,360

Table

Detail of Salaries and Allowances.

Name/Position	Monthly rate	Allowances	Total	Total for	Total for
				the year	5 year
1. Principal Investigator	Borne by FRI	-	-	-	-
2. Senior Scientific Officer	Borne by FRI	-	-	-	-
3. Scientific Officer	3,225 × 3	1440 × 3	13,995	1,67,940	8,39,700
4. Field Assistant	1,745 × 3	935 × 3	8,040	96,480	4,82,400
5. Fishermen	1,185 × 2	743 × 2	3,856	46,272	2,31,360
6. Master role	1,005 × 3	-	3.015	36,180	1,80,900
				3.46.872	17.34.360

1. Includes house rents, medical allowance and festival allowances.

Detail Budget for Capital and Field Research Expenses (in Lakh Taka)

Line Item	FY-1	FY-2	FY-3	FY-4	FY-5	Total
A. Capital Expenses:
1. Computer (1 unit)	1.50	-	-	-	-	1.50
2. Balance (2+2 = 4 unit) (5 & 10 kg capacity)	0.34					0.34
3. Measuring board (6 unit)	0.01	-	-	-	-	0.01
Total	1.85					1.85
B. Research Operational Expenses
1. Office supply & services	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.5	0.90
2. Travelling allowances	0.50	0.20	0.20	0.35	0.3	1.55
3. Fuel & oil Net and net materials	0.90 1.20	0.601.20	0.60 1.00	0.80 0.50	0.65	3.55 3.90
4. Repair and maintenance	0.10	0.10	0.15	0.20	0.10	0.65
5. Printing & publication	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.50	0.54
Total	2.81	2.21	2.06	1.96	2.05	11.09
Grand Total	4.66	2.21	2.06	1.96	2.05	12.94