Sazedul Hoque
Biography
Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, PSTU. & Professor Department of Fisheries Technology Patuakhali Science and Technology University Dumki-8602, Patuakhali.
Research Interest
Seafood Processing and Quality Control; Seafood Safety; Value-added Seafood Product Development; Post-harvest Quality and Value-chain Analysis of Fish and Fishery Products; Utilization Seafood Processing Waste for Biodegradable Packaging Materials; Marine Plastic Pollution and Conservation; Livelihood Improvement and Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) of Small-Scale Fishers; Capacity Building of Coastal Community, Climate Change impact on Coastal Community.
Abstract
ABANDONED, LOST AND DISCARDED FISHING GEARS FROM ARTISANAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHING SOURCES FROM THE BAY OF BENGAL: A CASE OF FIELD SURVEY AND LABORATORY TEST
In Bangladesh, commercial and artisanal fishing generates huge amount of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) that poses a severe threat to biodiversity and plastic pollution in marine environment. This study aims to identify the quantity, sources, types, causes and impact of ALDFG varied by different fishing gears in the Bay of Bengal. A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared, and 300 fishers were interviewed in Kuakata, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Retrieval of ALDFG was conducted by artisanal and trawling fishermen in the Bay of Bengal. The chemical properties (polymer composition via FTIR) and mechanical properties (tensile strength and abrasion resistance) of collected nets samples were conducted. Results showed significant regional variations in ALDFG quantities. By weight gill net (lomba jal) in Kuakata had the highest loss at 76?18 kg/month/boat and Set Bag nets in Cox?s Bazar followed at 60?25 kg/month/boat but gill net (chandi jal) had the highest area coverage. Artisanal fishers lost significantly higher quantities of fishing gear than commercial fishers. Retrieval operation found six types of ALDFG among which gill net (chandi jal) was dominated (28%). The occurrence of ALDFG caused by underwater obstruction, ships cutting and rough weather. Among different ALDFG, gill nets posed the highest (75 to 100%) entanglement risks. FTIR analysis identified polymer composition of oxidized polyethylene, polyethylene, polyehtylene terephthalet and trace quantity of polyamide of which trawling net differed in polymer composition than others. Gill net (lomba and lal jal) had higher tensile strength than trawl net but trawl net required higher force (236.7?7.4N) and elongation (56.1?0.4%) before tear off. Gill net (chandi jal) had less tensile strength that means less durable than other nets. Abrasion tests of gill net (chandi jal) 0.5?mm and 0.3?mm under varying salinity and storage showed that thicker twine had greater durability than thin twine that means at higher salinity and prolong storage reduce abrasion resistance. The study identified gill net (chandi jal) contributing most in ALDFG and posing marine pollution. The study recommends effective ALDFG retrieval and recycling, biodegradable net trials, excluder device enforcement and net return programs to landing centers consequences sustainable marine resource management of the Bay of Bengal.
Key Words: ALDFG, Ghost Fishing Gears, Marine Pollution, Marine Biodiversity, Bay of Bengal.
