production has reached to high enough of its capacity. Now is the time to introduce cages in flowing river-water to increase the fish production promptly. Vast open water-bodies are still unused. Following the other countries of Asia, cage culture here may be the appropriate tool for additional fish production. Although for the last three decades Asia is leading in cage culture whereas Bangladesh was and still is far behind despite having huge water resource. Various attempts were made in promoting cage culture as summarized in Table 1. Although cage culture has a history, due to various reasons, cage culture in Bangladesh did not take off as in other Asian countries. Almost all the efforts, even well-established encountered sustainability problem due to the following reasons: Lack of quality net Lack of suitable floating feed Poor selection of fish species suitable for cage farming Lack of required technical know-how Absence of skilled manpower to operate the cages Lack of concerted efforts and Socio-economic problems (e.g. poaching, conflicts etc.) Trial 1: History of cage culture in Bangladesh Duration Activities Remarks 1977 Commercial cage culture was included in the National Target was to promote fish production Development Program. utilizing the vast open water. 1978 Department of Fisheries and Bangladesh Agricultural These experimental cages were mainly University introduced cage culture mainly for research as a part of post graduate student’s of the post-graduate students of Fisheries Faculty. course-curriculum. 1980 Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation and Poor management and lack of technical Bangladesh Krishi Bank jointly started cage project in know-how resulted ending of project. Kaptai Lake. 1986-87 Department of Fisheries introduced cage culture of Hand-made feed could not bring any Indian major carps in Kaptai lake. good result. 1981-84 Department of Fisheries derived experimental cage Survival rate was good but production of culture in different places of the country; the O. niloticus was not up to the remarkable one was the cages in Dhandmondi lake in satisfactory level. Dhaka town. 1983-84 In the same Dhanmondi lake cage culture of Rohu The survival rate was high. Mirgal, Bighead, Silver and Nile tilapia was trialed. Survival rate was high and production rate was poor. 1987-1991 BFRI tried experimental cage culture in Kaptai Lake. Hand-made feed was used, no good result was obtained.
production has reached to high enough of its capacity. Now is the time to introduce cages in flowing river-water to increase the fish production promptly. Vast open water-bodies are still unused. Following the other countries of Asia, cage culture here may be the appropriate tool for additional fish production. Although for the last three decades Asia is leading in cage culture whereas Bangladesh was and still is far behind despite having huge water resource. Various attempts were made in promoting cage culture as summarized in Table 1. Although cage culture has a history, due to various reasons, cage culture in Bangladesh did not take off as in other Asian countries. Almost all the efforts, even well-established encountered sustainability problem due to the following reasons: Lack of quality net Lack of suitable floating feed Poor selection of fish species suitable for cage farming Lack of required technical know-how Absence of skilled manpower to operate the cages Lack of concerted efforts and Socio-economic problems (e.g. poaching, conflicts etc.) 1: History of cage culture in Bangladesh Duration Activities Remarks 1977 Commercial cage culture was included in the National Development Program. Target was to promote fish production utilizing the vast open water. 1978 Department of Fisheries and Bangladesh Agricultural University introduced cage culture mainly for research of the post-graduate students of Fisheries Faculty. These experimental cages were mainly as a part of post graduate student’s course-curriculum. 1980 Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation and Bangladesh Krishi Bank jointly started cage project in Kaptai Lake. Poor management and lack of technical know-how resulted ending of project. 1986-87 Department of Fisheries introduced cage culture of Indian major carps in Kaptai lake. Hand-made feed could not bring any good result. 1981-84 Department of Fisheries derived experimental cage culture in different places of the country; the remarkable one was the cages in Dhandmondi lake in Dhaka town. Survival rate was good but production of O. niloticus was not up to the satisfactory level. 1983-84 In the same Dhanmondi lake cage culture of Rohu Mirgal, Bighead, Silver and Nile tilapia was trialed. Survival rate was high and production rate was poor. The survival rate was high. 1987-1991 BFRI tried experimental cage culture in Kaptai Lake. Hand-made feed was used, no good result was obtained. Trial