Impact of New Technology On Traditional Fishing Communities In Bangladesh

Abstract

"Fishing households are among the most disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh. They have no direct control over various water bodies (ponds, lakes, estuaries, rivers, sea etc.) and other means of production including equipments to catch fish. Because of the importance of marine fisheries, various measures have been undertaken in Bangladesh such as motorization, control of fishing gears, regulation of fishing, jurisdiction of commercial vessels, seasonal and area-closure and infrastructure development.

"This paper examines the impact of new technology on the traditional fishing communities of coastal areas of Bangladesh based on case studies of two marine fishing villages - one village exposed to new technology and the other not. This allows us to analyze 'before' and 'after' situations of a village with respect to technology and also for a comparative analysis between two villages. Altogether 189 sample households have been covered. How could the improvement in the socio-economic status of fishing households be affected, given that the marine fisheries resources in their present form is a common property? How the technological interventions affected the artisanal fishermen? The paper comes up with some findings and recommendations. It is observed that access to new technologies has been very limited by the vast majority of fishermen. Policies and programmes to ensure access of the fishermen to water bodies, credit boats, fishing gears and market facilities should be taken up and implemented through proper organizational set-up with beneficiaries' participation."