South Asian Business news and information

Many rivers run across the Sundarbans and falls into the Bay of Bengal. These rivers contain various fish species. Sundarban provides 90% of fish species of eastern coast and the coastal fishery of East India is dependent upon the Sundarbans.  

There are total 172 types of fish species, 20 types of prawn species of prawn and 44 types of crab species.

Among fin fish species there are: lates calcarifer, hilsha ilisha, liza parsia, liza taede, harpodon hehereus, plotosus canius, pompus argenteus, rhinobatus, pangasius pangasius, polydactylens, chanos chanos, eleutheronema tetradactylum, polynemous indicum, polynemous paradesious and pama pama.

Shellfish species includes Panaeus monodon, Panaeus penicullatus and metapenaeus monoceros.

There are two types of edible crabs: scylla serrata and neptunus pelagiens.

A major portion of the Sundarbans’ people are engaged in fishery. Collecting fish seeds is also another major business in this area.

Because of undersize fishing, fishing in breeding season, using detrimental fishing gear, and building dams and embankments have posed a major threat to the fish resources of this area. Both the governments of West Bengal and Bangladesh are trying their best to stop the bad practices. Because of the shrinking fish population many fishermen in these areas are compelled to leave their profession.  

Useful links:

The Sundarbans: A Unique Wilderness of the World 

FISHERIES IN SUNDARBANS:PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS 

Coastal Fisheries Management and Community Livelihood