Understanding flood plain aquaculture practice: An evidence from Daudkandi, Cumilla District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract The floodplains of Bangladesh represent a vital common-pool resource, and the aquaculture sector stands alone as one of the most prosperous industries in the country. This industry is essential for the provision of food and nutrition, employment opportunities, and earnings in foreign currencies for a country's development and economic growth. This study examines the prevailing fish culture practices, assemblage and growth patterns, marketing strategies, profit-sharing mechanisms, costs and benefits, community-based approaches, management protocols, poaching activities, and the current administrative setup at the government level. This research was conducted at "Shapla Fisheries", a floodplain fish culture venture at Raipur Village, in Daudkandi Upazila, Cumilla. This study applied the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach to understand the floodplain's intensive and nonintensive culture practices. The survey identified 39 fish species in the study area, with 5% endangered, 10% nearly threatened, 8% vulnerable, 54% least concerned, and 23% unlisted according to Red List 2015 criteria. Under rigorous culture, Barbonymus gonionotus reached 4566.67% growth. In 2018, the proportion of induced species in the intense system was 79.63%, representing a significant increase from the 60.18% observed in 2008. Intensive aquaculture systems boost earnings and have improved profits but lost biological biodiversity. This study demonstrates that small indigenous species (SIS) maintain a healthy ecology despite intensive farming focused on financial growth. Thus, the current floodplain aquaculture system lacks community association and guaranteed earnings. This study proposed community-based native aquaculture practices to protect wild species, conserve small indigenous species (SIS), and support floodplain-dependent populations.