The decline of carp fishing in Bangladesh's Kaptai Lake is leaving small-scale fishers struggling to survive. Khokon Jaladas, a 53-year-old fisherman, sat quietly in the yard of his home, watching the fishing boats moored in the lake.
Until a few years ago, Khokon would have been out on the water, spending long hours casting nets and trying to catch enough fish to feed his family. But now, fishing alone is no longer enough for him. To make ends meet, he works as a laborer in the boat building sector while continuing to fish whenever he can.
“There used to be plenty of carp fish. We could catch fish easily and earned Tk 1200 ($10) to Tk 1600 ($13) per day. But now, catches of high-value carp species dwindled,” Khokon said from Old Jelepara, a settlement on the edge of the lake in Rangamati district.
“Sometimes, I return home empty handed from the lake. For this, it would be difficult to support my six-member family without doing other work,” Khokon said.
Around Kaptai Lake, Khokon's story is becoming far too common. For generations, the fishers met their livelihoods catching high-value carp species. As these fish become harder to find, many have no choice but to leave the profession.
Kaptai Lake was created by a hydroelectric dam on the Karnaphuli River in 1960 and is one of Bangladesh's most important hubs of inland fisheries.
The fishers around the lake are struggling to survive due to the decline of carp fishing.
Consequences of Declining Carp Fishing:
- Loss of income for small-scale fishers
- Unemployment and poverty
- Impact on lake biodiversity
Information Sources:
- Mongabay