Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh:
History, Mandate, Achievement, Challenges and Plan
Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Ali
Professor
Fisheries & Marine Resource Technology Discipline
Khulna University
1908, Established in undivided Bengal of British India
1910, Abolished and merged with Department of Agriculture
History of DoF
Establishment
1917, Revived and become independent organization through T. Southwell’s
recommendation
1923, Abolished Again
1942, Revived again as Independent organization as per recommendation of Dr. M.
Ramswami Naidu
1975, Central Fisheries Department merged with Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh
1984,Central Marine Fisheries Wing merged with DoF
MoFL
ORGANOGRAM
DG
ADG
Director Director Director Director
Director PSO
Field PSO QC
Marine Training Inland Survey Reserve
Service
DD
DFO
SAD SUFO UFO FM
Manpower of DoF
Grade Number of Employee
1st class (Grade 1-9) :1601
2nd Class (Grade 10-11) : 655
3rd Class (Grade 12-13) : 2079
4th Class(Grade 14-20) : 1490
Total manpower : 5825
Mandate
Disseminating improved aquaculture technologies
through training, demonstration and e-Extension
service and advisory services to the stakeholders.
Enhancing the fisheries resources through
implementing sustainable utilization, conservation
and management measures.
Assisting the administrative ministry to formulate
policies, acts etc.
Enforcing quality control measures and issuance of
health certificates for exportable fish and fish
products.
Mandate contd…
Conducting fisheries resources survey and assessment of
stock to develop fisheries database for proper planning.
Facilitate arrangement for institutional credit for fish and
shrimp farmers, fishers and fish traders and other
entrepreneurs.
Facilitate alternative income generating activities for
rural poor and unemployed people towards poverty
alleviation.
Formulate and implement development projects
/programs towards sustainable utilization of fisheries
resources to ensure food security.
Major Achievements
Bangladesh is self-sufficient in Fish production from December, 2017
Globally Bangladesh ranked 4th position in inland capture fisheries
followed by China, Myanmar and India and
5th position in production of farmed species (closed water) followed by
China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam (FAO: 2016, 2017).
Fisheries sector contributes:
• 3.57% to national GDP
• 25.30% to the agricultural GDP
• 1.97% to national foreign exchange earnings (exporting 75,338 MT
fish and fish-products, BDT 4,283 crore)
Major Achievements ….contd
In the last three year, country’s total fish production: 36.84,
38.78, 41.34 lakh MT (2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17
respectively)
In 2016-17 target was 40.50 lakh MT, but achieved 41.34 lakh
MT Fish Production in Bangladesh
4500000
4000000
3500000
3000000
Metric Tons
2500000
2000000
1500000
1000000
500000
0
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
Major Achievements ….contd
In the last decade, GDP increased in the fisheries sector
at the rate of 6.31% (Bangladesh Economic Survey 2018)
Fish provides 60% of national animal protein
consumption.
Plays important role in rural employment generation
and poverty alleviation:
~11% population are involved in fisheries sector
Major Achievements ….contd
Achievements in 2017-18:
Achieved the targeted Production: 40.5 lakh MT
Demonstration pond: 550 ha
Beel nursery establishment in 150 ha
Fingerlings released: 350 metric ton
Skill development training: 1.25 lakh farmers
Registration of hatchery: 600
Testing of feed sample: 1075 to ensure quality of the feed
Licensing and license renewal: 175 commercial trawler and 1550 mechanized fishing
vessel
Testing 23,200 sample to verify quality of the fish and fish products
Analyzing 1775 sample to check residual effect of the exportable sample
Sector wise contribution (Tk)……
160000
140000
120000
100000
Crore BDT
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 1013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
Crop and Vegetables Livestock Forestry Fisheries
Sector wise contribution (GDP)……
12
10
Contribution in GDP (%)
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 1013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
Crop and Vegetables Livestock Forestry Fisheries
Issues and Challenges
Development of Broodstock, fry, feed and other
equipment
Water-logging, erection of illegal fishing trap that
hinder natural migration
Overexploitation and loss of biodiversity
Use and misuse of pesticides and antibiotics
Siltation and less current reducing natural breeding
and nursery ground of the fishes
Lack of availability of specific pathogen-free (SPF)
post-larvae (PL) and quality feed
Issues and Challenges …..contd
Salinization of paddy field, mangrove deforestation
and conflicts in shrimp farming
Insufficient livelihood options and Govt. assistance
for the fishermen during prohibited fishing season
Clash and unconsciousness in fish sanctuary
establishment and management
Improper and backdated information of marine
fisheries stock and improper management
involvements
Shrinking livelihood options of the remote farmers
affected by climate change
Future Vision
Enhancing production of culture and capture fisheries for at least 45%
and 20% respectively from the recent base-year production
Enhancing 20% more production of Hilsha (Tenualosa Ilisha) from the
recent base year production (394951 metric tons).
Increasing per capita fish consumption up to 60 gram per day.
Increasing export earning to US$1.25 billion from frozen fish, shrimp
and fish-products.
Ensuring quality seed and feed to the remote farmers
Encouraging women participation in fish processing activities and
increasing their involvements at least up to 25%
Future Vision contd……
Encouraging best management practice and traceability
Sustainable intensification in farming
Sustainable utilization of inland and marine resources
Marine stock assessment by the newly purchased research vessel ‘R. V.
Meen Sandhani’ (19 November, 2016)
Increasing 20% earnings of the fishermen
Ensuring food safety for local and international market
Strengthening CBFM (community based fisheries management)
Establishing 20 surveillance check-post by 2020.
Selecting potential marine protected areas by 2020.
Back up Organogram….
Director General
Additional Director General
Director(Inland), Director (Marine), Principal Scientific
Officer (Fisheries Planning and Survey), Principal Scientific
Officer (Inspection and Quality control), Director(Training),
Director (Field Service), Director (Reserve)
Deputy Director-Divisional Deputy Director, DD
(Administration), DD (Planning and Finance), DD (Quality
Control), DD(Aquaculture Extension), DD(Reserve)
Quality Assurance Manager
Principal/District Fisheries Officer
Senior Assistant Director
Assistant Director / Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer
Upazila Fisheries Officer/ Farm Manager/
Inspector/Scientific Officer/ Evaluation Officer/
Microbiologist / Limnologist /
There are 1553 technical officers at different stairs in the
DoF.
