Fisheries co operative

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Fisheries Co-operative
Introduction:
A cooperative is any group of people who have voluntarily agreed to cooperate, i.e., to put their
resources together and to work together towards the achievement of a common economic and/or
social goal in a joint, financially viable, enterprise. A fishing cooperative that deals with only the
first domain would be a group of fishermen who jointly own a boat and jointly fish but then divide
their catch according to a predetermined method and each takes care of the marketing and/or
processing of his own share of the catch. Fisheries Cooperatives may include businesses owned
and managed by the people who use their services (a consumer cooperative) organizations
managed by the people who work there (worker cooperatives) multi-stakeholder or hybrid
cooperatives that share ownership between different stakeholder groups. For example, care
cooperatives where ownership is shared between both care-givers and receivers. Stakeholders
might also include non-profits or investors. Second and third-tier cooperatives whose members are
other cooperatives platform cooperatives that use a cooperatively owned and governed website,
mobile app or a protocol to facilitate the sale of goods and services.
Aims and Objectives:
 Provide extension service to the fishermen.
 Motivate fishermen to organize co-operatives
 Arrange technical guidance for members
 Transfer technology to fishermen through co-operatives
 Take measure for the development of fisheries and fishing industry
 Enhancement of fisheries through conservation and management of fisheries resources.
 Establish new fishing industries.
 Enforcement of fisheries Rules, Regulations etc.
 Establish units for preservation, processing, distribution and marketing of fish and fishery
products.
 A fishermen's cooperative can aim at very limited goals, such as reduction in production
costs, or increase of their returns.
 Organize and motivate the poor.

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Past and present status of fisheries co-operatives:
The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic transformation in Bangladesh fish catching and
rearing industry including both rapid mechanization and industrialization. Foreign exchange
earnings from exports of fish and fishery products have been steadily rising. The Protection and
Conservation Fish Rules, 1985 has created a sense of awareness about the preservation of wetlands
among people in general and also among the panchayat level functionaries. Fishing activities from
harvesting of fish to marketing have grown in the inland sectors and fish farming in ponds and
tanks has merged as an important means of providing employment opportunities to the rural
masses. Water bodies at village level are slowly being brought under government control through
formation of new primary fishermen's cooperative societies (PFCS). Fishermen' s cooperatives are
now being increasingly recognized as one of the major institutional strengths for improving their
economic condition. In Bangladesh, as also in other developed and developing countries of the
world, co- operatives are used as a potential tool for all-round development of human society and
especially of the rural sector. The department of fisheries of government of Bangladesh has taken
up a number of schemes for improving the economic condition of the fisherfolk. This includes
provision of extension education, improved fishing technology, credit and subsidies. However, in
spite of the financial, technical and infrastructural facilities provided by the government, these
cooperatives are still constrained by a variety of organizational, managerial, administrative and
financial factors. This has constrained the cooperatives from being able to achieve their objectives.
Most of the fishermen in various states of India are still in the grip of poverty. This issue is
particularly important, from the point of view of policymakers as removal of poverty and
attainment of self-reliance are given top priority in national planning. Brumett and Williams (2000)
in their study suggest the need for close cooperation among government agencies, research and
extension teams, fishermen groups and cooperatives for evolving an integrated system for
sustainable fishery management.
Marine fisheries development and cooperative:
cooperatives are also playing an important role in fisheries sector also. Particularly in exploitation
of marine fisheries resources of the country, fishermen cooperative societies are playing crucial
role. Fisheries cooperatives are formed aiming to proper fisheries development by involving the

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fishermen who are directly or indirectly dependent on this trade for their livelihood. The
cooperatives are to provide guidance to fisherman to bring out an overall improvement in their
socio-economic status. During the year 2010-11, there were 94 Primary fisheries cooperative
societies related to marine fishing, with 64500 fishermen members.
Function of Fishery Cooperative Societies for the Development of Marine Fisheries.
The main roles of primary society are to development of marine fisheries and supply of fishing
equipments.
o Hold or dispose of fishing boats, fish carriers, road and river transport and all.
o Equipment and accessories necessary in connection with the development of the fishing
industry.
o Take measures for the development of fisheries and the fishing industry.
o Establish the fishing industry.
o Establish units for capture of fish and promote a better organization for exploitation of fish
wealth acquire.
o Establish units for preservation, processing, distribution and marketing of fish and fish
product.
Governmental support
 Department of Fisheries (DoF)
 Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC)
 Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
 Different Universities offering fisheries education
Department of Fisheries (DoF)
The principal organization responsible for fisheries development and management is currently the
Department of Fisheries (DOF) with marine and inland wings in four administrative divisions.Its
main responsibilities include administration, management, development, extension and training.

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Contribution of DoF in Fisheries:
o Fisheries Extension Service
o Training
o Transfer of Technology
o Conservation of Fisheries Resources.
o Quality Control of Fish and Fisheries Products
Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC)
Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) was established in 1964 under the
Directorate of Fisheries of Pakistan. Its main responsibilities include administration, management,
development, extension and training.
Contribution of BFDC in fisheries:
o Acquire, hold and dispose of fishing crafts
o Undertake surveys and investigation for fisheries resources
o Establish fish catching unit to build up organized body for fisheries exploitation
o Lend fisheries industry and fishermen co-operative committee
o Encourage fishermen co-operative society
o Establish organization for fish and fisheries products export
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) was established in 1984 with its first station at
Mymensingh. The Institute functions through the following divisions in respect of development,
coordination and operation of its research program.
Contribution of BFRI in Fisheries:
 Research Division
This division comprises of two units:

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o The program section which taking care of planning and monitoring of research and
statistics and socio-economic studies
o The operation unit which taking care of operation of the four research stations
 Training and Co-ordination
This division provides short-term training programs on different aspects of fish culture and
technology to field level extension workers, fish farmers and relevant staff engaged in
various non-government and government organizations. Besides, arrangements are
periodically made for holding of seminars, workshops, symposia and academicians and
conferences with a view to exchange the ideas among the planners, academicians and
researchers of the country.
 Support Service Division
This division has two units:
o The technical division with the responsibilities of engineering and procurement
activities and
o The administration and finance section with the administrative and financial activities
of the Institute
University
 Bangladesh Agricultural University
The Bangladesh Agricultural University at Mymensingh, there is a full-fledged faculty of
Fisheries which proves formal curriculum in the field of inland and marine fisheries, which
include biology culture, processing, nutrition, disease, engineering, extension, economics,
etc. Of the inland and marine fisheries presently, the faculty has 3 Department.
o Studies and improved production, processing, transportation and handling of shrimp
and their cost benefits at farm level
o Identification, characterization and control of disease of shrimp and prawn in
Bangladesh

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 Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU)
The University of NSTU continued with fisheries as a special group under the Department of
Fisheries and Marine Science. The course curriculum of the Department of Fisheries and
Marine Science is more or less similar to those of other Universities.
 Chittagong University
This University has an Institute of Marine Science (IMS). This Institute is used to cover courses
particularly in Marine Fisheries. However, The Institute can hardly manage facilities for
meaningful fisheries activities.
 Dhaka University
The University of Dhaka continued with fisheries as a special group under the Department of
Zoology and the Department of Aquaculture. The course curriculum of the Department of
Aquaculture is similar to those of other Universities.
Non-Government Organizations (NGO) Support:
There are many NGOs that work on fish and fisheries resources management and conservation in
Bangladesh.
Activities of Different NGOS
1. Mono- and polyculture of different species
2. Nursery management program.
3. Baor fisheries development and Management
4. Credits programmme

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5. Extension Programmes
List of Different NGOs
 Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
 Proshika Mannobik Unnayan Kendra
 Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS)
 Care International Bangladesh (CARE)
 Caritas Bangladesh
 Association for Social Advancement (ASA)
 World Fish Bangladesh
 DANIDA
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
BRAC was established on 2 February 7, 197 at sulla village under Sylhet district by Mr. Fazlay
Hassan Abed, a philanthropic citizen of Bangladesh to carryout activities on human welfare and
development.
Objectives of fisheries programs:
 To increase the income and employment of the targeted people.
 To create the availability of animal protein.
 To ensure proper utilization of aquatic resources.
 To enhance the professional skill of the people.
 To participate in the national economic activities.

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 To facilitate the availability of spawn and fingerlings to the village people.
List of the fisheries programs of BRAC:
 Carp polyculture in perennial ponds.
 Carp-prawn polyculture.
 Sarputi culture seasonal ponds.
 Carp nursery program.
 Prawn nursery program.
 Carp hatchery management program (small scale).
 Prawn hatchery management program.
 Pond re-excavation program.
 Baor fisheries development and management.
Proshika Mannobik Unnayan Kendra
Objectives:
 To create scope of employment and income generating opportunity for the rural and urban
poor fish farmers and fisherfolks.
 To increase fish production and raise the nutritional status of the poor.
 To invent appropriate technology and implement.
 To increase the production of desired species to meet the requirement of fish farmers at village
level.
Strategies:
 Access and utilize open water bodies and ponds.
 Provide various fisheries related training to the poor.
 Provide technical, logistic and credit support.
 Provide technical and financial support to the group members.
 Ensure women’s participation in all components of the programme.
 Providing extension service for fisheries program.

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Conclusion:
The vision 2021 of the Bangladesh Government targeted to achieve its goals of self-sufficiency in
food and thus increased food security, which includes attaining self-sufficiency in fish production
for which a clear long-term policy is needed. In the development of fisheries policy, inter-
government departmental coordination, coordination between Government and NGOs, and the
stimulation of public response are important. Following the fisheries policy, the GoB must enact
a comprehensive legal framework for the proper management and utilization of its resources
for the purposes of the sustainable development of the country and well-being of its population.
References:
 Chakrabarti, B. K., 1999. Fisheries Institutions in Bangladesh: Their Role in Fisheries
Education and Management. An undergraduate Thesis, Fisheries and Marine Resource
Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna.
 Gupta, K., & Pandit, C. (2007). Importance of fishermen's cooperatives. Economic and
Political Weekly.
 Jentoft, S. (1989). Fisheries co-management: delegating government responsibility to
fishermen's organizations. Marine policy.
 Shamsuzzaman, M., Xiangmin, X., & Islam, M. M. (2016). Legal status of Bangladesh
fisheries: Issues and Responses.
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