(a)   Background

Inland open water fisheries of Bangladesh is one of the richest in the world and is the source of income and nutrition to millions of the rural poor. In inland open water fishery system, floodplain plays the most vital role in offering opportunities for breeding, nursing and growing of many species of fish and shell fish. But due to implementation of FCD/I project for augmentation of agriculture production, the flood plain fisheries has been seriously affected. Migration of fish including fries, larvae/ eggs to and from the floodplain has been obstructed by embankment and water control structure. The sluice gates in general are not fish friendly. Besides the sluice gates are operated to manage water inside the embankment only for the interest of rice production ignoring fish production. However, proper and timely operation/ management of existing sluice gates and regulators, the fish migration into the floodplain could be improved to some extent for increased production of fish.

If the dynamics and timing of the discharge from sluice gates controlling water in modified / compartmentalized floodplain are understood, then the regime of operation of gates for mutual benefits of fish and rice could be devised. The natural fish stock in the floodplain could be enhanced by proper management of sluice gates to allow fish to enter in the typical seasonal pattern.

But the information/ data on the dynamics of the discharge from sluice gates and the migration behaviour of fish are not available in the country. In order to acquire such information through research, and based on the outcome of the research to develop an optimal procedure and protocol for operation/ management of sluice gates and regulators for fish stock enhancement in the floodplain through participation of different stakeholders (fishers, farmers etc), the  research project entitled “The Use of Sluice Gates for Stock Enhancement and Diversification of Livelihoods” financed by DFID has been developed for implementation in Bangladesh during the period from September 2002 to August 2004. The project is being implemented jointly by the International Institute for Environmental and Development (IIED) U.K; the Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG), U.K. and Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), BCAS has a sub-contractual arrangement with IIED / MRAG for implementing the project activities.

(b)  Objective of the Project :

The goal and objective of the projects are to optimize the use of sluice gates through developing a protocol for the operation of sluice gates to give improved integration of water control for natural fish enhancement with rice farming in empoldered flood plain to benefit the poor fishing and farming community.

(c)  Project area :

The project is being implemented in the following two flood plains with three sluice gates:

(i)  PIRDP, Pabna

(1) Talimnagar Sluice Gate
(2)  Boulikola Sluice Gate

(ii)  CPP, Tangail

(3) Sluice gate at Jugni, Tangail Sadar

(d) Activities of the Project :

The study includes fisheries, hydrological and sociological aspects in those three sluice gates area covering the following activities:

(1) Determination of pattern of use and hydraulic characteristics of sluice gates in water management of compartments in consultation with local communities.

(2) Investigation of existing use of fish and rate of fishing in communities inside and outside compartments around sluice gates, in relation to farming and other activities.

(3) Participatory analysis of community views and expectations with regard to fish and farming leading to an understanding of their decision-making processes with regard to water control. Interactive consultations to be held with participating communities as the information is synthesised and the protocol developed.

(4) Investigation of seasonal fish movements in the vicinity of sluice gates following a review of the interaction of fish swimming characteristics with the likely operation of sluice gates.

(5) Synthesize the water control needs of rice and fish given new data, with the communities, to arrive at acceptable strategy and protocol for sluice gate management to increase livelihood options for natural enhancement of fisheries.

(6) Creation of simple dissemination package.

(e)    Manpower :

BCAS’s responsibility is to undertake fieldwork and processing of data with local part time experts and full time field researchers. Expatriate consultants from MRAG and IIED are responsible for planning the activity, data analysis and writing report. Following are the local and expatriate consultant/staff of the project.

Expatriate Consultant   (Part time) :

(i)  Project management specialist (Team Leader / Coordinator)
(ii)  Planning specialist – MRAG
(iii) Fisheries/ Biologist/ Hydrologist (MRAG)
(iv) Sociologist (IIED)

Local Expert and Staff

(i) Project Manager (Part time)
(ii) Senior fisheries Biologist (Part time)
(iii) Senior Sociologist (Part time)
(iv) Senior Hydrologist (Part time)
(v) Field researcher (Fisheries) – (Full time.)
(vi) Field researcher (Hydrology) – (Full time.)
(vii) Field researcher (Sociology) – (Full time.)
(viii) Computer Operator (Full time)

(f)  Project Cost :

Total project is £143,660, of which £43039 has been allocated to BCAS for field study and data processing.

(g) Project status :

First year’s study of the project has been completed and data have been analyzed. Second year’s study is scheduled from May 2004. At the end of Second year’s study a dissemination workshop will be organized at Dhaka.

Time Period : January 2003 - March 2005

Expected Outputs :

(1) An optimal procedure and protocol for the operation of sluice gates and regulators to promote best integration of fish immigration and natural stock enhancement with rice farming in empoldered floodplains.

(2) The understanding of the local social and institutional framework of fisheries, rice farming and water control to promote integration and co-management at the micro-level.

(3) A synthesis of the information into a water management plan for uptake by the local participating communities and institutions.

(4) A simple dissemination package for NGOs or government extension services to promote uptake of the protocol or synthesis on a wider basis.

For Further Information : 

A proposal has been submitted to MACH project for undertaking similar study at Kamarkhali Sluice Gate near Hail-Haor project site. MACH has agreed in principle to finance the study. It is expected that the work will be executed during the coming monsoon. This study will be supplementary to the existing study.

Md. Liaquat Ali