Livelihood Status of The Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishers: The Case Of Coastal Fishing Community of The Padma River, Bangladesh

The Padma is the second longest river of Bangladesh and contributes significantly to fisheries production and dependent fishers’ livelihood. The present study assesses livelihood status of the hilsa fishers employing household interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews from July to October, 2015. Main livelihood activities are fishing; fish drying, fish trading, net mending, boat making and repairing activity, agriculture, small business and daily labor. Among total 288 households, 150 are exclusively involved in fishing, 110 fishing and other agricultural farming and only 28 are involved in small business. Maximum number of fishers (39%) belonged to the age group of 31 to 40 years, 21% belonged to the age group of 21 to 30 years. fishers’ annual income ranges from 32000 + 510 BDT to 48000 + 750 BDT whereas 10% have annual income 100,000 + 1120 BDT. The overall livelihood status of the hilsa fishers was not satisfactory due to some social and economic constraints like increasing fishers’ number, low income, lack of alternative income generating activities, loan problems, piracy, price hike and conflicts with stakeholders for resources. Effective initiatives and their proper implementations are very crucial to improve the livelihood of the fishers.