Assessment of fisheries biodiversity and associated marketing systems in the Bishkhali river ecosystem of coastal Bangladesh

This study aimed to assess the current fish marketing system, examine the diversity and abundance of fish species, the modalities of their sale, and the challenges facing various markets along the Bishkhali River in Southern Bangladesh. The objective was to provide recommendations for improving the fish marketing system through data collection over four months, from July to October 2019. Data were gathered from fish traders and consumers using questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and on-site field visits. The study identified 45 different fish species, with 15% categorized as vulnerable, 15% as endangered, and 5% as critically endangered. The remaining 65% were found to be non-endangered. The most abundant species, Ilish, accounted for 46% of the total fish population, while shrimp and prawn species comprised just 3.66%. A significant portion of the fish, 69%, was sourced from local rivers and ponds. The marketing channels revealed that 60% of the fish followed a fisherman-wholesaler-retailer-consumer route, 25% were transported from fisherman to local packer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer, and 15% were directly sold by fishermen to retailers. Fish prices varied depending on market structure, species, quality, size, weight, and season. The study recommended building an ice factory, improving electricity and water supplies, establishing cold storage facilities, and implementing advanced communication systems to address market challenges and reduce economic losses.