Research Article
Shark and Shark Products Trade Channel and its Conservation Aspects in Bangladesh
Md. Monjurul Hasan 1*, K.M.Shahriar Nazrul MS2, Mohammed Rashed Parvej 2, Md.Shamsul Alam Patwary 2 and A.M.M. Borhan Uddin 3
1Researcher at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Riverine Station, Chandpur-3602, Bangladesh
2Researcher at Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh
3Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
- *Corresponding Author:
- Hasan M
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute
Riverine Station, Chandpur-3602, Bangladesh
Tel: +8801751840077
E-mail: mhshihab.hasan@gmail.com
Received Date: January 14, 2017; Accepted Date: January 31, 2017; Published Date: February 05, 2017
Citation: Hasan MK, Nazrul MS, Parvej MR, Patwary SA, Borhan AMMU (2017) Shark and Shark Products Trade Channel and its Conservation Aspects in Bangladesh. J Fisheries Livest Prod 5: 221 doi: 10.4172/2332-2608.1000221
Copyright: © 2017 Hasan MK, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
This study was conducted in two major shark landing centers; BFDC fish harbor, Cox’s Bazar and Fishery Ghat fish landing center, Chittagong from January-December, 2014. Semi-structured interview, case study, frequent visit to the informants found in and between the trade channels were done for data collection. As there is no forms of gear size limitation or seasonal restriction in the existing fish act, most landed sharks were found to be smaller in size. Big sharks were found to be processed and dried in some enclosed building in the form of cottage while smaller sharks in Nazirertek fish drying area. Dried salted and iced sliced meat of shark and its sun-dried bones are sold to local consumers for consumption. Dried shark fins, skins, teeth are exported to different countries like Myanmar, India, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and USA. Bangladesh earned 0.09 crore taka by exporting 1 MT shark fin during 2012-2013. Although no shark products were exported from Bangladesh during 2010-11 to 2011-12 due to banning of shark catch and trade in several countries, different body parts of shark were smuggled to Myanmar from Cox’s Bazar illegally. All the activities cause a serious threat to shark biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal. Steps should be taken to save and conserve shark in our ecosystem through the inclusion of shark in the fish act restricting indiscriminate killing, establishing shark sanctuary, smuggling of shark and its product and improving the trades of shark products.