Minister for Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim has disclosed production of indigenous species of fish has quadrupled from the past and acknowledged the role of science and research undertaken at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, or BFRI, in this regard. 

Rezaul said this while addressing as chair at the 41st meeting of the Board of Governors’ of BFRI at the Conference Room of the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Breeding technique and cultivation technology of around 37 extinct species of local fish was designed through research done at BFRI, he said.

Along with setting up ‘Live Gene Bank’ for conservation of local fishes, some 11 species of extinct local fish were brought back to life in the country in the last one year, the minister informed.

Putting up the research activities to increase production of the fishes, he said the fish production had soared from 67,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 260,000 MT (2.6 lakh), Rezaul said.

The minister further said production of Hilsa increased due to research output of BFRI, which is under his ministry, implementation of field-level action plan and different initiatives taken by the government.

Production of Hilsa went up by 85 percent, along with availability of large Hilsa by 25 percent.

Praising the activities of the research institute, Rezaul said it has always played a vital role in increasing fisheries output.

Lawmaker and board member of BFRI Mohibur Rahman Manik, Board’s Vice Chairman, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Dr Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury and Board Member Secretary and BFRI Director General Dr Yahia Mahmud, and among others were present at the meeting.