Acqua International

Despite the significant industrial progress, Bangladeshi economy is still highly depending on agriculture where almost 75% of the total populations are directly or indirectly involved with this sector. Fisheries are respected one of the major source of livelihood in agriculture in Bangladesh where almost 2.2 millions of peoples directly and another 11 millions of peoples indirectly involved in this sector. Bangladesh has a total of 25 millions Ha area of water resources which includes inland and marine resources where a total of 129.8 million pounds of fish and shrimps were produced in the year 2009-2010 which is in monitory terms about $437.40 millions which demonstrate 5.5% of the national GDP and 7% of total export income which is now consider as 3rd major export commodity in Bangladesh following Ready made Garments and Textile. Of the fishery commodities exporting shrimps like Black Tiger (Penaeus Monodon) and Fresh water Scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) bring the maximum foreign currency in this sector. Shrimp cultured in Bangladesh is unique in it’s nature. A favorable environmental condition of BARKISH-WATER aquaculture, particularly for shrimps/prawn, are available in Bangladesh. Unlike its neighboring countries like India, Vietnam, Thailand etc, intensive/semi-intensive aquaculture is not practice in Bangladesh instead an extensive aqua culture is practice where shrimp cultured in relatively small ponds holding with kinds of direct domestic care by the farmer where no additional feeding is provided to grow up the shrimp fry. Rather the fry grow up eating the natural food/larva available in the pond which makes the quality, in term of texture and aroma, of the Bangladeshi shrimp much better than its neighboring countries. Perhaps due to this reason the demand of Bangladesh shrimps is relatively higher for those who knows shrimp well. Bangladesh process a wide range of fishes, shrimp/prawns, lobsters, Crustaceans, Molluscs, Turtles and other fishery resources inhabiting its extensive marine and inland open waters. Fishery resource in Bangladesh is basically recognizes as high salinity area and low salinity area to Fresh water resources. Shrimps like Black Tiger (Penaeus Monodon), Sea White (Penaeus Indicus), Cat Tiger/Green Tiger (Penaeus Semisulcatus) as well as fish like Cuttlefish, Pomfrets, Riibon fish, King/Queen fish, Eel fish (Congridae ), Octopus, Squids, Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), Asian Sea Bass (Lates Calcarifer) are considered as high salinity shrimp/seafood items. On the other hand shrimp like Scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and Brown shrimp/Harina (Metapenaeus Monoceros) as well as Ruhi /Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla, Mrigel, Shol, Boal, Tanga, Puti, Pabda, Koi, Cat Fish are considered as low salinity to fresh water fish/seafood items.