Fisheries in the Context of Attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh: COVID-19 Impacts and Future Prospects

Atiqur Rahman Sunny, Mahmudul Hasan Mithun, Shamsul Haque Prodhan, Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Syed Mohammad Aminur Rahman, Md Masum Billah, Monayem Hussain, Khandaker Jafor Ahmed, Sharif Ahmed Sazzad, Md Tariqul Alam, Aminur Rashid and Mohammad Mosarof Hossain
Additional contact information
Atiqur Rahman Sunny: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Mahmudul Hasan Mithun: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensing 2201, Bangladesh
Shamsul Haque Prodhan: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Md. Ashrafuzzaman: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Syed Mohammad Aminur Rahman: Department of Geography, Environment and Population, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Md Masum Billah: Ministry of Education, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Monayem Hussain: Ecofish-ll Project, WorldFish, Bangladesh Office, Gulshan, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Khandaker Jafor Ahmed: Department of Geography, Environment and Population, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Sharif Ahmed Sazzad: Pathfinder Agro and Fisheries Consultation Center, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Md Tariqul Alam: Department of Aquaculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Aminur Rashid: Department of Aquaculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Mohammad Mosarof Hossain: Department of Coastal and Marine Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: Fisheries and the aquaculture sector can play a significant role in the achievement of several of the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda. However, the current COVID-19 situation can negatively impact the fisheries sector, impeding the pace of the achievement of development goals. Therefore, this paper highlighted the performance and challenges of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh, emphasising the impact of COVID-19 and the significance of this sector for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through primary fieldwork and secondary data. The total fish production in the country has increased more than six times over the last three decades (7.54 to 43.84 lakh MT) with improved culture techniques and extension services. Inland closed water contributions have increased to 16%, while inland open water has declined to 10%, and marine fisheries have dropped to 6% over the past 18 financial years (2000–2001 to 2018–2019). COVID-19, a significant health crisis, has also affected various issues associated with aquatic resources and communities. Transportation obstacles and complexity in the food supply, difficulty in starting production, labour crisis, sudden illness, insufficient consumer demand, commodity price hikes, creditor’s pressure, and reduced income were identified as COVID-19 drivers affecting the fisheries sector. The combined effect of these drivers poses a significant threat to a number of the SDGs, such as income (SDG1), nutrition (SDG2), and food security (SDG3 and SDG12), which require immediate and comprehensive action. Several recommendations were discussed, the implementation of which are important to the achievement of the SDGs and the improved management of the aquatic sector (SDG14—life below, and SDG16—life above water).

Keywords: fisheries; aquaculture; food security; COVID-19; SDGs; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9912/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9912/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9912-:d:628378

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().