The use of pesticides for illegal fishing in the canals of the Sundarbans has endangered the entire forest and its biodiversity. Poor marginal fishermen, allegedly coerced by unscrupulous merchants, resort to this method to catch more fish quickly. These factors have significantly altered the region’s economy over the past decade, causing great suffering for those reliant on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods.
Government-imposed periodic fishing bans have further limited income sources for the Sundarbans’ inhabitants, experts note. According to these experts, the timing for restricting access to the forest should be scientifically determined and coordinated. Additionally, the experts have recommended providing alternative livelihood options for those dependent on the forest.
Although the government does not admit it, the illegal practice of fishing using pesticides has existed for a long time in the Sundarbans, said Professor Md Nazmul Ahsan of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Technology at Khulna University. “For the last two decades, fisheries were the sole resource in the Sundarbans. Of course, the tigers, deer or even the trees are not on sale. There was a time when newsprint, and hardboard mills had a demand for gewa trees. People needed goran, golpata for fuel.
“Now the economy has changed. So did the market structure, people’s taste and preference.” As the fishermen are allowed to enter the forest for a brief period, they use different types of illegal fishing nets and poison fishing system, Prof Nazmul said. “Poison fishing is biologically harmful, I must say.” Mihir Kumar Doe, forest conservator of Khulna, said they conduct raids and nab the fishermen and traders using poison for fishing.
“But we don’t have the equipment to identify which fish were caught using poison. Hence, we can’t produce any proof to the court and the offenders get bail easily and do it again,” he said. The forest department does not have specific data about fishermen facing the law for illegal fishing, or the number of cases filed against them.
Impact of pesticides
Professor Abdullah Harun Chowdhury of Khulna University’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences explained that the effects of pesticides used in the Sundarbans can persist for several months to years, reducing the reproduction capacity of aquatic species, impacting their health, and decreasing their numbers.
When pesticide-laden water flows into the deep sea, it affects fish in that area, he said. Furthermore, illegal fishing practices have disrupted the food chain in the affected areas, endangering the aquatic biodiversity of the forest. Prof Nazmul emphasised that the long-term presence of pesticides in the environment poses a significant risk. Pesticides can accumulate in the food chain, affecting specific fish species. Their impact on smaller animals in the soil, although slow, is a subject to research. Prof Nazneen Nahar from Bangladesh Agricultural University stressed that the use of poison not only harms fish but also affects various aquatic animals. She underlined the importance of raising awareness about the issue.
Sanctuary and ban
The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans spans across 6,017 square kilometres with around 450 canals and 13 large rivers spread inside the forest, offering around 210 species of white fish including Bhetki, Pomfret, Datina, Chitra, Pangash, Loitta, Chhuri, Med, Poa, Topshe, Catfish and Hilsa. Also, 24 types of shrimp and prawns, 43 types of Mollusca, and a single type of lobster are available here. Breeding of as many as 14 types of crabs takes place in the forest.
In 1996, the government declared nearly 140,000 hectares of the Sundarbans reserve forest or sanctuary and expanded it further in 2017. Currently, more than half of the Sundarbans is a reserve forest that spans around 3,200 square kilometres, where capturing, killing, shooting or trapping of wildlife is prohibited and managed for the conservation of all natural resources such as vegetation, soil and water mainly for undisturbed breeding of wildlife.
According to the law, no person shall cultivate any land, establish or undertake any industrial operation, harvest, destroy or collect any plant, set any kind of fire, enter into a sanctuary with any weapon, disturb or threat any wildlife, or use chemicals, explosives or any other weapon or substances which may destroy wildlife habitat. People are banned from entering the forest outside the sanctuary from Jun 1 to Aug 31, even for fishing.
Crimes escalate in the forest during that period as there are hardly any visitors while the poor residents have no alternative livelihoods. The fishermen can opt for illegal fishing without any disruption in this period with alleged help of some dishonest officers of the forest department and some middlemen. Some allege there is a lack of research and data to determine the time of the ban. Mihir denied the allegation and said the three month ban on entering the forest was determined after consulting experts. “This is the breeding season for fish.” “Monsoon is also important for plants. We try to monitor the forest so that the animals can breed.”
Mihir agreed that the poor fishermen and others who depend on the forest need alternative livelihoods during the ban. “They have their families to feed. What’ll they eat if they cannot enter the forest for 90 days?” The government provides the fishermen of the rivers and the sea with limited resources such as rice during the fishing ban.
But those in the Sundarbans forest get nothing. Mihir said the Forest Department recommended supporting those dependent on the forest during the ban. “It will bring some comfort to these fishermen,” he said. He believes the fishermen risk jailing to fish in a short period during the ban to feed their families. “Besides this, a registered fisherman can enter the forest for one week, which is a short period. So, they may tend to use pesticides to catch more fish in a short period.”
Catching more fish in less time
In the Sundarbans, fishing is allowed during specific periods with the requisite permits, and the authorities determine the type of nets that can be used. However, the use of nets that trap fish spawn is strictly prohibited. Despite these regulations, shrimp larvae are still being caught using nets that are nearly identical to mosquito nets. Moreover, various types of fish larvae are also being unintentionally harmed. The primary reason behind using these nets is to maximise fish catch.
During the fishing ban, some fishermen resort to using pesticides in the canals. This is done to boost their catch within a short time frame. Allegations have emerged regarding the involvement of unscrupulous fish traders in this practice. “The use of pesticides weakens the fish. Fish rely on gills to extract oxygen from water through diffusion. When pesticides enter the water, the gills become inactive, and the fish get poisoned,” said Prof Nazmul. Poisoned fishing yields a quick harvest, but it disrupts the local ecosystem, according to Abu Bakkar, a forester from Koira Union, adjacent to the Sundarbans.
“After using poison, the canals remain devoid of food for fish, leading to reduced fish populations.” Abu Bakkar also highlighted the involvement of unscrupulous forest department officials, who are allegedly accepting bribes from fishermen in the forest sanctuaries. Some fishermen have resorted to using agricultural pesticides to control insects in the forest. They mix these pesticides with rice, chira, roti, biscuits, or other bait, and scatter them in dry canals during low tide. Fish enter these canals with the rising tide, inadvertently ingesting the pesticides.
“A group of fishermen, under the influence of a powerful syndicate, has resorted to poisoning fish in the Sundarbans. This practice not only impacts fish but also causes harm to other aquatic animals due to water pollution,” said Prof Anwarul Qadir, executive director of Sundarbans Academy. In many instances, fishermen are compelled to fish with pesticides due to financial constraints. Some even borrow money to fund their fishing expeditions, which forces them to resort to using pesticides.
Noor Alam Sheikh, joint secretary of environmental group Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, pointed out that previously only a few groups of fishermen used poison in the sanctuary areas. However, the scenario has evolved, with local fishmongers, moneylenders, and politically influential figures becoming involved. They lease various canals in the forest to fishermen and pressurise them to use pesticides. Fishermen have alleged that the rivers and canals in the Sundarbans are being treated with pesticides, resulting in increased fish catches. Prof Nazmul Ahsan recommended that 1,500 fishermen’s families be identified and provided with social security during the fishing ban to alleviate their financial struggles.
What fishermen are saying
Golam Rasul Howladar, a fisherman from the Chila area adjacent to Sundarbans, highlighted the dire situation faced by fishermen in the region. He said the Sundarbans used to be a significant source of livelihood for their families, but the current state of the forest offers limited opportunities for fishing. “Now our family doesn’t rely solely on fishing in the forest. It’s difficult for the family to make ends meet.”
He also pointed out the increasing use of poison by fishermen, which has led to a decrease in fish populations and even impacts the bird population, as they feed on the surviving small fish. Akbar Sana, a forester from Mathbari, described a group of fishermen using poison to catch shrimps, which are then stored in the Sundarbans. He mentioned the burning of forest trees for drying shrimp, leading to a reddish colour in the dried shrimp and higher market demand. Some fishermen also claimed that poison is used to catch deer, and allegations of extortion have been made against forest officers involved in fishing with poison.