DHAKA, June 17, 2021 (BSS)- Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim today called for taking pragmatic preparations to protect the fisheries sector of the country from the adverse impact of climate change.
“Logical, realistic and scientific preparations should be made so that the country’s fisheries sector is not endangered due to the impact of climate change,” he said.
He was speaking at the inaugural workshop of ‘Community Based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh’ which is being implemented by the Department of Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at a city hotel as the chief guest.
He also said that due to the geographical location and the impact of climate change, the fisheries of the country’s coastal regions are being affected in many ways.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has started various activities to overcome this loss, he said, adding that in order to enrich the country’s economy by extracting conventional and non-conventional marine fisheries and bolstering the country’s economy through food exports, several projects have been taken up including deep sea’s ‘Tuna’ fish extraction project.
“We need to move forward by tackling the harmful effects of climate change,” he added.
He urged all concerned to be prepared to face the adversity of nature strongly.
“We are working on a comprehensive plan under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to this end,” the minister informed.
He further said the fisheries sector is a very important partner for the continuation of the development progress of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Expansion and qualitative development of this sector is necessary not only for Bangladesh but for the whole world, he said, adding that the world is now a global village.
The whole world needs to take the fisheries sector forward by working together, he continued.
With Director General of Fisheries Department Kazi Shams Afroz in the chair, the programme was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud as special guest.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Taufiqul Arif, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Dr Yahya Mahmud and FAO Representative in Bangladesh Robert D Simpson were present there as guests of honor.