FISHING GEARS IN MEGHNA RIVER: THREATENING OR SUSTAINABLE FOR FISHERIES

A survey was conducted to get the information about the fishing gears used in Meghna River during July 2012 – June 2014. Eleven types of net and two types of trap were found in operation during the study period. Different kinds of nets such as gill nets, seine nets, drag net, set bag net, lift net, cast nets, etc., were usually used for fishing purpose. The fishing traps were pangas chai and ichar chai were identify in the study areas. Most of the gears were used nonselective except the gill nets. Fishing gears like behundi jal, chor ghera jal, katha ber jal, were capable of capturing a wide range of fish species which are harmful for the river biodiversity. Fish trap like pangas chai catches undersized Pangas (Pangasius pangasius) which make severe threat for the existence of the species. During peak season (April- June) there were numerous incidences of killing more than 100 kg of pangas fry by a pangas chai in single haul of 8 to 10 hours.