Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal
Open Access

Abstract

Present Yield Status, Percentage Composition and Seasonal Abundance of Shark in Two Geographically Important Zones of Bangladesh

Monjurul Hasan Md, Bhakta Supratim Sarker, Mahabubur Rahman, Shamsul Alam Patwary Md, Jahangir Sarker Md, Shahriar Nazrul KM and Mohammed Rashed Parvej

A study was carried out during January-December (2014) in two selected shark landing centers; BFDC Fish harbor, Cox’s Bazar and Fishery Ghat fish landing center, Chittagong situated at the North-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal. Data were collected through semi-structured interview, case study, frequent visit to the informants found in and between the trade channels. A total of 9 shark species belonging to 3 families (Carcharhinidae, Hemiscylliidae and Sphyrnidae) were recorded. It was found that sharks were exploited mostly at small sizes (45%) in those landing centers. The highest and lowest yield were found in the month of January and July respectively at Chittagong whereas November and July at Cox’s Bazar. The highest and lowest landed number was found in November and July respectively at both the landing centers. Dog shark was the most dominant species followed by Hammerhead shark in terms of yield and landed number at Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar contributed 55.794 MT (60% 90 ) and 17.675 MT (19%) among the total yield and 174,877 ( 83%) and 25,733(12%) landed number respectively. Yield and landed number of other species contribution altogether were only 21% and 5% respectively of total. Total yield was found 6 folds in Cox’s Bazar than that of Chittagong. Abundance reveals that the highest catches of shark were found during October to December (42%) and the lowest catches during January to March (16%). Yield of shark was found to be declining than the previous years and a clear deviation of seasonal abundance is also occurring. As there is no gear size limitation or seasonal restriction in the Fish Act, small sized sharks were found to be caught mostly in those landing centers which may also pose a threat to shark species composition in the Bay of Bengal region, Bangladesh.