Present status of oxbow lake fisheries: Cases from south-western Bangladesh

Oxbow lakes are semi-closed water bodies (locally called Baor) occupied by dead channels of rivers. To evaluate the existing status of Baor fisheries two Baors (Baluhor and Nasti Baor) of different management practices in south-western Bangladesh was selected. Both primary and secondary data were collected from March to December 2018. Management of Baluhor and Nasti Baor were enforced by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) and fishers’ community themselves (CBFM) respectively. Fishers’ involvement with fishing activities had restricted access to both study Baor areas. The commonly cultured species were Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cirrhinus cirrhosus, Mylopharyngodon piceus, and Cyprinus carpio, locally called “Raja Mach”. Various non-stocked fishes were also found in both Baors that reproduced naturally, locally called “Rani Mach”. In Nasti Baor, fish was harvested (Both Raja and Rani Mach) three to four times a year while it was two times in Baluhor Baor. Furthermore, fishers had access to harvest “Rani Mach” round the year in Baluhor Baor while there was no access in Nasti Baor. Annual production rate of Raja Mach (Kg/hectare) in Baluhor and Nasti Baor was 471.45 and 1806.45 respectively while in the case of Rani Mach the production rate (Kg/hectare) was 373.04 and 327.06 respectively in Baluhor and Nasti Baor. The current study also found a range of managemental, natural, economic, and social obstructions in Baor fisheries management.