Landing and distribution of captured fish in selected landing centers in Kishoreganj haor, Bangladesh

The present study illustrates species diversity, landing quality and catch composition of fish in 10 fish landing centers of 5 haor upazilas of Kishoreganj haor for 12 months from January 2018 to December 2018. A total of 15 different types of fishing gears were detected to harvest fish in different stations throughout a year. Most of the fishing (46.88%) was conducted by small groups of 2 – 5 fishers, while 24.87% of the fishing was conducted by 6 – 10 fishers. The average depth of water in haor associated rivers and inundated lands during monsoon period varied from 4.87±0.99 to 15.2±6.71 and 2.6±0.55 to 6.2±2.68 feet respectively. Fifty different types of fish species were landed in the selected 10 landing centers, where both cultured fish and captured fish were present. Fishes under the Cyprinidae family included 9 species, viz. Labeo rohita. Gebelion catla, Cirrhinus cirrhosus, Labeo calbasu, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Labeo gonius covered a maximum of 12450.61±468.32 MT. The second largest landed fish under the family Schilbeidae included 4 species Silonia silondia, Mystus armatus, Mystus cavasius Pseudeutropius atherinoides. Other fish species landed were identified as: 4 species under the family Mastacembelidae, 2 species under Siluridae, 3 species under Clupidae, 1 species under Ambassidae, 2 species under Palaemonidae, 3 species under Channidae, 1 species under Gobidae, 2 species under Bagridae and 1 species from each of the family Heteropneustidae, Pangasiidae, Clariidae, Ailiidae, Botiidae, Nandidae, Cichlidae, Anabantidae, Osphronemidae, Ambassidae, Notopteridae, Notopteridae,Belonidae and Gobiidae. Highest number 14 species landed were under catfish category, followed by 9 species of major carp. The captured total fish landed in 10 landing centers in 12 month period accounted 12,574±1029.64 MT, but the cumulative total landed fish, including pond fish, was 15,795±1666061.93 MT, as calculated by 45 Aratdars of 10 landing centers. About 88.35% fishermen sold the captured fish at local arat, but the rest (11.65%) were sold to large traders (paiker), retailers and consumers. A 56.6% of the fishermen cleaned the captured fish by river water, while 43.4% fishermen did not use water for washing fish before selling. After harvest, 45.62% fishers used clean utensils for carrying fish to arat and 54.38% used uncleaned utensils. Average harvest per fishermen per day was 23.9 kg, of which 22.26 kg was sold in the market and 1.64 kg was used for own family consumption. Out of total fish landed, a 45.2% was transported by fish hold of the country boat, 21.9% by bamboo basket and 14.8% by plastic crate. Relatively small quantity of fish was transported by insulated ice box (4.7%), aluminum container (2.7%) and gunny bag (3.2%). A 32.6% fisherman used ice and 67.4 % fishermen did not use ice after harvesting of fish. During fishing season, fish and ice ratio used by the transporters was 2.62:1. The highest number of auctioneers were found in Chamra Ghat of Karimganj, while lowest were in Nikli, with an area of 55±1.44 and 25±8.42 decimal area per auctioneers being used for fish business.

Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the fish species diversity, landing pattern and quality and catch composition in 10 selected landing spots of Kishoreganj haor.

Method of data collection
The study was based on the collection of primary data. From the selected study area, primary data were collected from 252 stakeholders through questioner interview, focus group discussion with intermediaries, cross-check interview with key informants and direct catch data from landing centers in 2018. A structured questioner form was developed by rigorous drafting, editing and field validating by the community. Primary data were validated by the secondary data collected from respective Upazila fisheries offices and District fisheries office of Kishoreganj.

Data Analysis
All the collected data were accumulated in Excel sheet and analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2016 and then presented in textual, tabular and graphical forms for easy understanding of present findings.

Status of gear used in Kishorgonj haor
A variety of fishing gears were used in Kishoreganj haor. A total of 15 different types of fishing gears were detected to harvest fish in different stations throughout a month (Table 1). Most fishing is conducted in small groups of 2 -5 fishers (46.88%) in Kishoreganj haor with the 24.87% fishing is conducted by 6 -10 fishers. Fishing as a part of single person is conducted by 22.28% and a small portion of fishing is conducted by larger groups (5.97%). Majority of the fishing is done by small group of fishers in all fish landing centers except Tarial and Chauganga. In Tarial and Morichkhali most of the fishing is conducted by single person and in Kotiadi and Chauganga above 50% fishing is done by medium group fishers ( Figure 2). There are no such types of published report, so it is not possible to compare the present findings. Sayeed et al., 2015 stated that 15 types of fishing gears of five major groups such as nets, traps, hooks and line, wounding gears and fish aggregating devices were operated for fishing by fishermen in Hakaluki haor, Moulvibazar. Rahman and Akhter, 2015 stated that a total of 34 different types of fishing gears where seine net, gill net, lift net, push net, cast net, fish trap and hooks and lines were 12 (34%), 4 (12%), 2 (6%), 4 (12%), 1 (3%), 7 (21%) and 4 (12%), respectively were used to catch fish from haors. Sayeed, 2010 reported that thirty four different gears in six categories were recorded in Chalan beel in greater Pabna and Natore districts. Holder, 2002 noted 9 types of gear, were classified into three groups as nets, traps and wounding gears, used in two beels (Doba and Chara) of Mymensingh sadar upazila, Mymensingh. BCAS, 1991 estimated about 30 different types of gears used by fishermen in Halti beel in Natore and Rajshahi districts.

Water Depth of the haor
The Water depth of river and land in Kishoreganj haor have been summarized in Figure 3 and 4 respectively. The average depth of water in river varied from 4.87±0.99 to 15.2±6.71 feet. The minimum depth of water varied from 4.87±0.99 feet in February to 6.9±4.45 feet in July-November. The maximum depth of water varied from 12.12±0.78 feet in February to 15.2±6.71 feet in July-November ( Figure 3). The average depth of water in land varied from 2.6±0.55 to 6.2±2.68 feet. The minimum depth of water varied from 2.6±0.55 feet to 4.0±2.27 feet. The maximum depth of water varied from 4.8±0.45 feet to 6.2±2.68 feet (Figure 4).  found that the water body in haor area remains at the zero level from January to March and then starts to increase and again go down from August. Mostly, in June and July, the water level reaches the highest point. According to NERP, 1995, almost all haor basins" are inundated for 7-8 months to depths of 5 m or more during the monsoon. This finding are more or less comply with present findings.

Species diversity of fish in the study area
About 50 different types of fish species were recorded in selected haor area on the basis of the landed fish in the selected landing centers (Table 2). Highest number 14 species landed were under catfish category, followed by 9 species of carps. Suravi et al., 2017 studied fish diversity of Dekar haor in Sunamganj, where they found 8 species of carps, 4 snakeheads, 3 eels, 11 catfishes and 1 minnow. More or less similar species diversities were also recorded in our study. Islam et al., 2020 recorded a total of 79 species of fishes belonging to 27 families under 9 orders in kishoreganj haor on the basis of direct observation and using morphometric and meristic characteristics which is higher than present findings. The highest number of species (10) found under the family Cyprinidae and major carps and exotic carps were the highest in the Daudkandi floodplain fisheries (DFPF) landings (Nowsad, 2020).

Landing of fish in the study area
Trends and frequency of catch and landing of fish in 10 landing centers in Kishoreganj haor area have been presented in Tables 3 and 4. Fishermen generally catch fish in different natural water bodies including haor waters and rivers. The cumulative catch by the fishermen involved with the 10 landing centers accounts 12,574±1029.64 MT each year ( Table 2). Quantity of landed fish in the landing centers are obviously different from that of the fishermen"s catch, because the quantity of landed fish not only depend on wild harvest, but a significant portion also comes from the culture ponds or outsides. This phenomenon agrees well with the existing scenario since the total landed fish in the FLCs per annum was accounted to be 15,795±1666061.93 MT, as calculated by 45 Aratdars of 10 landing centers (Table 4). There is no government statistics on upazilabased or haor-based landed and harvested fish in Kishoreganj or elsewhere in Bangladesh. So, data could not be verified with any independent sources. This fishery statistical data was directly collected from the landing stations in Kishoreganj haor. According to the Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh, 2018-19, total fish production in Kishoregonj district was 76410 MT where river, beel and floodplain production were 2403, 6781 and 42094 MT respectively which was much higher than our findings. Chandra et al., 2010 noted that floodplain productivity tended to be somewhat higher and, in some cases, had been high as 6000 kg/ha. Highest catch was recorded in winter season (November to February) accounted 9804.78 MT, 8964.99 MT in pre-winter season (August to October) and 7865.31 MT in monsoon period (March to July) ( Figure 5).

Status of harvested fish
The harvested fish in Kishoreganj haor is sold by fisherman to local arat, local paiker and the retail market. In total, about 88.35% fisherman sell their captured fish at local arat and rest of the fishers (11.65%) sell fish to paiker, retail market and consumption. About 100% fishermen sell the captured fish to local arat in Dhuldiya, Tarial, Rodar podda, Kotiyadi and Nikli. Only 13.55% fisherman sell the harvested fish to local paiker and a large portion of fisherman (86.45%) give the fish to seasonal paiker. Only 14.78% fisherman take their captured fish in local fish market for selling but 85.22% fisherman give their fish to paiker who come from different places (Table 5). Hossain et al., 2013, stated that fisherman catches fish independently and sells to the Aratder. Paiker purchases from the Aratder (98%) and fisherman (2%). Fisherman sells 80.5% of the fish to the Aratder and consumer (10%). Aratder sells fish to the secondary Aratder (75%), paiker (10%), processor (5%), wholesaler (8%) and retailer (2%). Paiker sells to wholesaler (95%) and retailer (5%). These findings are mostly complying with present findings. In Kishoreganj haor, 56.6% fisherman clean the captured fish by water and 43.4% fisherman do not use water for washing fish before selling (Table 5). Nowsad, 2010 reported that only giant prawn, penaeid shrimp and some other marine high valued species were found to be washed adequately (75-100%), while washing of most of the freshwater species before marketing were in 20-40% range. After harvesting, 45.62% fishers use fresh utensil for carrying fish to arat and 54.38% use contaminated utensil. 100% fishers use fresh container and contaminated container in Dhuldiya and Rodar podda respectively (Table 5). Table 6 shows that everyday a fisherman harvest in an average 23.9 kg of fish in Kishoreganj haor area. Among these, fisherman sales in an average 22.26 kg of fish per day at arat, paiker and retail market and keeps only 1.64 kg for their daily consumption. Among the landing centers, the fisherman harvest more than 30 kg of fish per day in karimganj, kargaon and Nikli area as well as less than 10 kg of fish is collected in Dhuldia (5 kg) and Morichkhali (7.3 kg). The consumption rate of fish by fisherman household is comparatively high in Korgaon (3.3 kg) and Nikli (2.6 kg) and low in Dhuldiya (.75 kg) and Morichkhali (0.6 kg). There is no such types of recorded data, that why it"s not possible to compare.

Fish transportation
After harvesting, various types of equipment are used for transportation of fish from water body to arat. Table 7 shows that average 45.2% fish is transported by boat, 21.9% by bamboo basket, and 14.8% by plastic crate. A small portion of fish is transported by ice box (4.7%), aluminium pot (2.7%) and gunny bag (3.2%). In Dhuldia 100% fish is transported by boat. Above 50% captured fish is carried away by boat in Morichkhali and Chowganga. 54.5% fish is carried away by bamboo basket in arat after harvesting from haor. During transportation, ice box is used only in Chamta ghat (6.7%) and Rodarpodda (40%) along with plastic crate and plastic drum. Boat, plastic crate and bamboo basket are available in all fish landing centers after harvesting of fish. Nowsad, 2010 stated that most of the fishes are transported by bamboo baskets of different shapes and sizes, with or without hogla mat or polythene covered and with or without ices. Fish are also being transported by plastic drum, steel made half-drum, country boat partitioned by hogla mat, aluminium container with or without lid, fibre glass crater, plastic crater, styrofoam box and ideal ice boxes. Ilish landed in Barguna-Barishal coast are mainly transported in water-ways by country boat. These are mostly complying with our finding. It is found from Kishoreganj haor basin that 32.6% fisherman use ice and 67.4 % fisherman do not use ice after harvesting of fish. Only 7% fisherman use ice in fish immediately after harvesting. About 15.6% and 6.3% fisherman use ice within 4 to 8 hours and 1 to 3 hours respectively after harvesting. About 3.7% fisherman use ice after 8 hours later. After arrival of fish at arat only 29.6% ice is still remaining and 70.4% ice is melted before arrival. 100% ice is melted before reaching of fish at arat in Karimganj, Morichkhali, Kotiadi, Chawganga and Nikli. In Kargaon and Rodar podda 100% used ice in fish is still present after reaching at arat (Table 8, Figure 6). There is a variation in quantity of fish transportation according to season and off-season. In fishing season about 681.73 kg fish was daily transported by traders. On the other hand, 370.65 kg fish was daily transported by traders in off-season in haor. In this study found that, 91.3% traders use ice for fish preservation in fishing season where 89.1% traders use in off-season. About 8.7% and 10.9% traders did not use any ice in season and off-season respectively. In fishing season about 37.68 kg ice used in fish preservation per day where 25.2 kg used in off-season. In this survey found that there is available ice for preservation of fish (Table 9).  Nowsad, 2010 noted that only 12% fishermen use very minimal quantity of ice in fish (ice-fish ratio of 1:3 or 1:4) and 88% fishermen and 77% fish farmer do not use ice in fish at all. All wholesalers/transporters use ice in fish but only 12% of them use an ice-fish ratio of 1:1 and 44% use a ratio of 1:2 but most of wholesalers, retailers and vendors use an ice:fish ratio of 1:3 to 1:5, which is quite negligible. Ice are used in inland fish transport in fish boxes or trucks and on board mechanized boats which carry fish more than a day. Sixty to eighty cans of ice (4.8-6.4 tones) are generally used on 7/8-day trip to ice 5-6 tons of ilish (Nowsad et al., 2012) 6. Status of using ice in harvested fish in haor basin.

Conclusions
Kishoreganj haor is one of the richest sources of captured fish in Bangladesh. As understood by the study, a wide variety of fishes are available in this water body. Thousands of people are directly or indirectly depended on this water body for their livelihood. Kishoreganj haor fishes are transported to the capital and other metropolitan cities. Through this study, the species diversity, catch composition, production season, landing pattern, handling and quality conditions and transportation of Kishoreganj haor fishes have been understood. Further studies are required to explore detailed information on species biodiversity, vulnerability in landing due to overfishing fisheries, value chain analysis and improvement, etc.