Contribution of fishery resources to GDP is Tk 60000 crores: annual income from fishery products export is Tk 40283 crores.

Fisheries are playing a very important role in the economic development of the country and in meeting the nutritional needs of the human body. Fish provides 60 percent of non-vegetarian food in people's daily life. Apart from this, the annual income is about four and a half thousand crores through fish export. After the importance of education and health sectors, the current government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various programs by giving great importance to the fisheries sector. If it is properly implemented at the field level, Bangladesh will achieve great success in the production of fisheries resources. Several programs have already been implemented at the field level. In the last five years, great success has been achieved in the production of the national fish Hilsa and other species of marine fish. However, the reason for the extinction of various native fish species has not yet been properly discovered. This naturally produced local fish is delicious to eat as well as full of nutrients. On the other hand, fish scientists think that it is not possible to meet the taste and nutritional needs of fish produced in scientific methods. Despite this, the present government has taken various programs considering this sector as very important. Economists are lauding the government's success in fish production in the last five years. Currently, Bangladesh ranks fourth in the production of fisheries resources in the world.

According to the sources of Department of Fisheries, in the fiscal year 2015-16, the production of fish in the country was 38 lakh 78 thousand metric tons. This production is expected to increase to 40 lakh 50 thousand metric tons in the financial year 2016-17. In the financial year 2015-16, about 75 thousand 338 metric tons of fish and fish products have been exported and foreign exchange equivalent to four thousand 283 crore rupees has been earned. Apart from this, according to the Economic Survey of Bangladesh in 2017, the contribution of the fisheries sector to the GDP is 3.31 percent and the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is about one-fourth. At current market value, the contribution of fishery resources to GDP is about 60 thousand crores. The average GDP growth in the fisheries sector has been 6.26 percent in the last five years. Prime Minister's announcement to raise Bangladesh to middle income country is the main goal of poverty alleviation. One of the ways to reduce poverty is to create employment opportunities. The fisheries sector is playing a huge role in creating employment. Every year about six lakh new employment is created in this sector. In the last 10 years about 6 million people have been employed. According to the sources of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the increase in global warming has adversely affected the agriculture as well as the fisheries sector. Indiscriminate use of harmful pesticides in agriculture and polluted effluents from factories are continuously polluting the natural and open water bodies of the country and various species of fish are being harmed. However, with the aim of overcoming this, multi-faceted initiatives in fish production such as modern fisheries management, non-traditional fish production, implementation of bill nursery activities, introduction of management, development and conservation of natural fish breeding areas, the growth in fish production is increasing. As a result of all these works, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has ranked Bangladesh 24th in fish production in open water bodies and 5th in fish production in closed water bodies.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra MP told Inqilab that the contribution of the fisheries sector is very important in Bangladesh's socio-economic progress, prosperity and above all poverty alleviation. The development of this sector is increasing due to the implementation of the steps and programs taken by the present government. As a result, there are extensive activities in this sector to achieve the goals of the annual plan and sustainable development up to 2021 announced by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, apart from ensuring animal meat for the increased population of the country, ensuring food security, poverty alleviation. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Chhayedul Haque MP told Inkilab that inland water bodies are working to ensure the maximum and sustainable use of our marine resources in addition to fish production. The present government has undertaken research and survey work to assess the stock of various types of fish and to determine the various types and maximum harvesting levels through harvesting.

According to the sources of the Department of Fisheries, in the 2012-13 financial year, the target of achievement in the fisheries sector has been determined in the seventh five-year plan (2016-20) for the base year. The targets are - 45 percent increase in farmed fish production from 18.60 lakh metric tons and 20 percent increase in reservoir fish production from 9.61 lakh metric tons compared to the base year. Hilsa and marine fish production increased by 18 percent to 5.89 lakh metric tons compared to the base year. Ensuring daily per capita fish consumption, increasing the income of fish farmers or fishermen by 20 percent and taking initiatives in providing safe food to domestic and international markets.

Due to the timely action taken by the government, the production of fish is expected to reach 40.5 million metric tons in the fiscal year 2016-17 against the demand of 40.39 million metric tons. A review of fisheries production in the last 10 years shows that the sector has achieved an average annual growth of 5.24 percent. There is almost stability in this case, if the production trend continues, the fish production in the country will be 45 lakh 54 thousand in the next year 2020-21, as a result, it will be possible to meet the projected fish demand of 43 lakh two thousand metric tons for the increased population in the country in 2020-21.

In addition to the increase in indigenous fish production in various parts of the country, there is a silent revolution in the production of pangas, koi, shing, magur and tilapia fish.