Meghna fishers of Bangladesh: sources of vulnerability and their adaptation strategies

Abstract

Fishers communities are one of the poorest, least educated and vulnerable sub-population in Bangladesh. They have been playing a vital role in the fisheries sector of the country. Unfortunately, very little studies have been undertaken about the sources of their vulnerabilities and their adaptation strategies. This study was designed to asses these issues on the Meghna fishers communities of Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj district and Gojaria upazila in Munshiganj district. The livelihoods and vulnerability of the fishers were assessed by semi-structured household (HH) surveys, group discussions and FGDs as the primary tools. The purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data. The HH assets were found to be not sufficient enough to maintain the current living standards. Fishing was found to be the only income source for most of the fishers (94%). Water pollution of the river Meghna by the release of industrial effluents from cement industries, pulp and paper mills, jute and chemical industries was found to be the major source of vulnerability. Fishermen could not catch any fish for nearly 15 days after one discharge and no income in those days. Although those industries had Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) but the owners did not operate them to reduce energy cost. Literacy rate among fishers was slightly lower (59%) than national literacy level. Literacy rate was found higher among the fishers of Gojaria upazila (65%) than Sonargaon (60%). 80% fishers of both upazila were Hindu. Most fishers (91%) were found as absolute landless. As an adaptation strategy, most fishers (52%) were found to borrow loan from NGOs in adverse condition. However, Only 27% fishers had their own savings. This study revealed that the Meghna fishers communities of those study areas were mostly affected by anthropogenic activities rather than climate change variability. One of the major impacts of anthropogenic activities was the dropped fish catch over the last decade. All surveyed fishers were absolute or landless category. Landless fishers had higher asset holdings than did the absolute landless group. Similarly, total HH income was also higher in landless fishers than in the absolute landless group. However, total HH income from fishing was higher in absolute landless group than that of landless group. Since absolute landless fishers depend mostly on fishing that is why they claimed for maximum water pollution from neighboring industries. Besides water pollution, navigation of vessels and ships, illegal dredging, social conflicts, uses of current jal, construction of the Meghna Bridge were the main anthropogenic activities that jeopardizing fishers lives. River bank erosion, increased temperature, flood, heavy current and rainfall were the sources of natural vulnerabity. Educated fishers had more adaptive capacity against vulnerabilities than uneducated ones. The present survey found out that livelihood diversification may be the best adaptation strategy against various types of vulnerabilities.