Value Chain and Efficacy of Hilsa Fishing Crafts at the Lower Meghna River, Bangladesh

Abstract:

Three types of traditional mechanized hilsa fishing crafts were found in Chairman ghat fish landing center which is situated on the bank of lower Meghna River under Hatiya sub-district in Noakhali. The study was conducted during the period of six months from October 2019 to March 2020. In this study the operational as well as economic aspects of three type of mechanized hilsa fishing crafts of Chairman ghat and their comparative distinguishing features were studied. These three type of fishing crafts were categorized as a large, medium and small crafts according to their total length and engine horse power. Large, medium and small boat were locally known as Fishing boat or Trawler, Tempoo or Chandi nauka and Choto Tempoo respectively. The survey was designed to gather information on these mechanized crafts structural information, engine horse power and variation of engine price, fuel need in every trip, distance and depth cover in every trip, composition and origin of wood, process of operation, cost, carrying capacity, number of catch, manpower needed for operation, fishing frequency, storage facilities, manufacturing value chain, cost benefit ratio, breakeven point of cost, ownership and safety issues of the crafts. Different value chain of different engine and wood of crafts were seen in the study area. Large and medium categorized boat used engine were imported from foreign country where small crafts engine were available in local market. The large categorized Fishing boat or Trawler had used four and six cylinder engine of ≥100 hp where medium categorized Tempoo or Chandi nauka had used engine of 30 to 100 hp. Smaller categorized Choto Tempoo were used for daily fishing as they had smaller engine range of 12 to 30 hp. Larger categorized Fishing boat or trawler take longer time (6.60±3.93 years) to get back its invested money and its cost benefit ratio (BCR) (1.36±0.23) is smaller than other crafts. 90% of smaller categorized Choto Tempoo nauka used illegal current jal during fishing and BCR (1.43±0.30) is smaller than medium categorized boat and it took earliest period (1.01±0.35 years) for get back invested money than other crafts as because of its lowest operational and construction cost. Among all three types of hilsa fishing crafts in the study area medium categorized Tempoo or Chandi nauka were best fitted for its lower construction cost, operational cost, not using current jal and moderate fishing frequency which generate higher cost benefit ratio (1.51±0.33) and early break-even point of cost (2.04±1.51years) than other crafts.