Community Based Organisations (CBOs) of CBFM-2 are officially registered with either the Department of Co-operatives or the Department of Social Welfare of the Bangladesh government. By now, community control over 116 project water bodies has been established through 130 officially recognised, poverty-focussed, Community Based Organisations (CBOs). In addition to that, most CBOs have already established community centres in their respective areas where they regularly meet, discuss, take decision and arrange training etc. to ensure effective implementation of Community Based Fisheries Management.

One of the objectives of CBFM-2 is to ease the growing fishing pressure and stop fishing during the breeding season, usually for a three-month period – April to June each year. Of course this leads to hardship amongst households that depend on fishing for their livelihoods. So the project includes a credit component supporting the development of alternative income-generating activities. Necessary trainings on income generation are also given to improve the livelihood of the project beneficiaries.

Fish and Fishing

One of the main actions of CBFM-2 has been to establish fish sanctuaries where no fishing is allowed. Sanctuaries are usually demarcated with red flags and filled with branches or tree roots, accompanied by a signboard declaring that fishing is completely banned in the sanctuary. A total of 164 fish sanctuaries covering over 90 hectares of water area have so far been established in 81 water bodies of CBFM-2 project. As well as contributing to increased production, fishers are very happy to see fish species appearing once more when it was assumed that they had disappeared forever.

Photo Credit: CBFM-FEMCOM Photo Archive, Khaled Sattar-MAP-Worldfish