GGGI Small Grant (2022) - Patuakhali Science and Technology University (Bangladesh)
Project Summary
Assessment of Current Status of Marine Fishing Debris in the Bay of Bengal: A Pioneer Study on ALDFG perspectives in Bangladesh
The Southern coastal districts of Bangladesh, especially Patuakahli and Cox’s Bazar district, are home to the largest catch of hilsa and shrimp from the Bay of Bengal, with most fishers in the region predominantly artisanal gillnet and seine net fishers. In these fisheries, a significant amount of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) finds its way into the Bay of Bengal each year, with a wide range of environmental and economic impacts.
Two coastal sites, Kuakata of Patuakhali and Najirartak & Doriarnagar of Cox’s Bazar were selected for this study. For the collection of ALDFG, groups of daily and deep-sea fishers as well as a local youth group were formed in each site, consisting of more than 100 people in total. More than 4,000kg of ALDFG and other marine debris were collected from Kuakata and Cox’s Bazar, of which the quantity of ALDFG was 1,620 kg and 1,310 kg, respectively. In addition to ALDFG, plastic bottles, polyethylene bags, sandals, etc. are other common items found during ALDFG collections.
A questionnaire was conducted to better understand the fishers’ (total 200; 100 in Kuakata, and 100 in Cox’s Bazar) knowledge, attitudes and practices on ALDFG issues. The survey result revealed that most of the fishers ‘often’ found ALDFG with significant negative impact on marine biodiversity. Cyclones and storms were identified as the main causes for ALDFG in the study area, and there were no initiatives found for the prevention, control or recycling of ALDFG. Four promotional public awareness campaigns and two training sessions were conducted where items with ALDFG awareness messaging were featured and distributed to participants, including banners, play cards/stickers, T-shirts, pens, notebooks, bags, t-shirts, and name-tags.
In addition, a larger multi-stakeholder ‘Ghost Gear Gathering’ event was organized involving fishers, local community members, leaders, researchers and policy makers to raise awareness of the issue and to develop recommendations for a policy brief to prevent, mitigate and find recycling pathways for ALDFG in the Bay of Bengal. This project has had significant impact in terms of ALDFG removal and building public awareness in order to minimize or avoid ALDFG impacts and improve the marine ecosystem and livelihoods of coastal fishers of the Bay of Bengal.
