Loss Of Aquatic Fauna During Collection Of Penaeus Monodon Post Larvae In Tidal Water Of Mongla River, Bagerhat

Abstract

The study was carried out in Mongla tidal river of Bagerhat district from May 2012 toApril 2013 to ascertain the abundance of black tiger shrimp (Penaeusmonodon) postlarvae (PL) and to quantify the damage of different aquatic fauna during collection ofP. monodon PL. It was found that around 1650 larvae of other shrimp species, 1562 finfishes and 6787 other macrozooplankton were cruelly damaged at the time of collectionjust for single PL of P. monodon. During the survey period about 0.18 million mandays/ year were calculated to be engaged in shrimp PL collection and on average 6.5million of P. monodon PL were collected annually from the studied area. It was alsoascertained from the present study that about 29,988 million of other shrimp species,fin fishes and macrozooplankton were destroyed annually by the shrimp seed collectionactivities in Monglariver. The results of the study reveals that present seed collectionpractice caused severe damage of other valuable aquatic fauna, which directly affectthe biodiversity of neritic and offshore fauna, natural productivity of tidal waters andecological balance of coastal and marine environment.

Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 41(1): 105-113, June 2015