Assessing Livelihood Disruptions and Adaptive Pathways of Hilsa Fishing Communities in Barishal During Seasonal Bans

Abstract

This research examines the socio-economic effects of the seasonal fishing ban on hilsa fishers in Barishal, Bangladesh, with a focus on income loss and the role of social safety net programmes. Based on primary data collected from 210 fishing households, the study applies both descriptive analysis and econometric techniques to identify the key determinants of livelihood vulnerability during the ban period. A binary logistic regression model was estimated using Stata 14 to assess the probability of income decline and to evaluate the effectiveness of various coping and support mechanisms. The results show that the fishing ban significantly disrupts household income, particularly among fishers without access to alternative employment or external assistance. Households that engaged in alternative jobs, received government or NGO aid, or participated in vocational training were significantly less likely to experience income loss. In contrast, loan-dependent households were more likely to suffer financial setbacks, indicating that borrowing served as a distress response. The model achieved strong explanatory power, with a pseudo R² value of 0.733. This study contributes to policy discussions on sustainable fisheries management by underscoring the importance of integrating conservation efforts with socio-economic protection for vulnerable fishing communities.