Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid Tuesday pressed for a bigger budget for the fisheries sector, but insisted that more money must come with strict transparency, accountability and an end to financial waste.
"Alongside boosting production, priority must be given to preserving the natural habitats of fish," the minister said, noting that native fish species are fast disappearing as natural water bodies shrink and the environment changes.
He was addressing a workshop titled "Budget and Government Development Vision in the Fisheries Sector," organised by the Department of Fisheries at Matsya Bhaban in the capital this morning.
Underscoring that the identity of "Mache-Bhate Bangali" is deeply rooted in fisheries, the minister said launching projects and spending money alone would not do.
Field-level verification, he said, is needed to find out whether fish sanctuaries are actually working.
"The primary purpose of sanctuaries is to create opportunities for fish breeding and reproduction. Regular reviews are necessary to examine where money was spent, what was actually accomplished, and its impact on overall fish production," he said.
The minister also warned against irregularities in the list of fishermen, saying the inclusion of fake or ineligible persons deprives genuine fishermen of government assistance.
He urged local officials to be more responsible during verification.
Turning to the deep sea, he observed that many countries commercially harvest tuna in international waters and that Bangladesh can tap the same potential.
"Instead of merely conducting surveys and spending money, a clear plan is required to translate survey findings into actual marine harvesting," he said, adding that Bangladesh must develop skilled manpower, suitable vessels and technological capacity to exploit deep-sea resources.
Speaking as special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku emphasised encouraging young entrepreneurs and providing fish farmers with necessary advice and technical support. He directed field-level officials to inspect farms regularly and monitor activities.
He said the government is working to increase freshwater fish production, expand exports and bring canals, rivers and other water bodies under fish cultivation.
Pollution-free water bodies, river navigability, fish processing and export promotion are vital for the sector's sustainable development, the state minister added.
Department of Fisheries Director General Khaled Kanak chaired the workshop.
Ministry Secretary Delwar Hossain attended as honoured guest, while Public Service Commission Member ASM Golam Hafiz was discussant.
Senior officials of the ministry and the department were also present.