Fish farming

Situated at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh lies on the richly fertile delta plains that mark a boundary between the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia. With the Padma, Jamuna and Meghna Rivers and their many tributaries innervating the Bangladeshi lowlands, fishing and aquatic agriculture have been mainstays of the country’s predominantly rural communities for centuries. Working amidst this rich riparian heritage, the USAID Feed the Future Aquaculture project aims to increase the productivity of aquaculture farms and improve the lives of millions through better health and financial security. In a country where up to fifteen percent of the population regularly faces nutritional shortages and household incomes are some of the lowest in the world, the benefits of the Aquaculture project could be transformative for many.

The Greater Noakhali and Greater Barisal areas of southern Bangladesh include large numbers of rivers, ponds, floodplains, waterlogged paddy fields, canals and tributaries of the Meghna River. These areas have a long history of fisheries production. In the past, fish farmers have depended on natural fish seed collected from breeding grounds such as Halda River. However, the expansion and intensification of aquaculture has reached a point where the demand for fish seed can only be satisfied by hatchery production.

About 75% of Philippine coral reefs, lakes, mangroves, primary forests, and rivers have been destroyed or damaged, principally as a result of unsustainable practices and population growth. This degradation threatens the food security and health of millions of Filipinos, with the incidence of poverty in rural areas at 54%, more than double that of urban areas (25%).