Status of Fish Aggregating Device Fishery in the River Titas of Bangladesh

Aims: To examine the status of Fish Aggregating Device (Katha) fishery in the river Titas in Bangladesh and development of an alternative Katha fishery management strategy.

Study Design: All Fish Aggregating Devices (Kathas) were recorded through a census survey. Fish catch monitoring facilitated through a regular catch survey of Katha/gear/team in operation.

Place and Duration of Study: The study employed data collected from the river Titas in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh from 1997 to 2002.

Methodology: A census of all constructed Fish Aggregating Devices (Kathas) in the study sites was undertaken. Catch data, including information on species composition and abundance, were collected from Katha fishers during the harvest season. Simultaneously a robust catch assessment was observed for four days per month. Randomly selected samples of catch by species by gear are recorded for each gear type.

Results: Katha fisheries in this river accounted for 28%, 20%, 34%, 34%, 37% and 25% of annual fish production in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively. Significant (p<0.001) differences in species assemblages between Katha and survey catch were found in this river. However, species distributions in Katha catch are not significantly different in the years 1997 to 2002 at the 5% level.

Conclusion: Katha fishery in the river system generally has a detrimental impact on fisheries resources as well as reducing fishing opportunities for poor and marginal fishers.