This paper examines the various challenges facing the development of fisheries resources in Kaptai reservoir, Bangladesh. The reservoir has undergone major changes in its catch composition since impoundment. Production records show a declining trend in the productivity of high-value fish. A host of managerial, socioeconomic and environmental factors are responsible for the underutilization of the reservoir's potential to provide high-value freshwater fish. These include deterioration of the natural breeding ground, environmental damage, poor implementation of regulations, inefficient fish farming technology and poor management practices. These constraints are discussed and possibilities for future improvements are suggested.
AhmedK. K. (1999), ‘Options for the management of major carp fishery in the Kaptai Reservoir, Bangladesh’, PhD dissertation, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.
2.
AhmedK. K.AlamgirM., and HaldarG. C. (2002), ‘Pen fish culture in lake-valley as a new production system of Kaptai Reservoir, Bangladesh’, in IslamZ, ed, Proceedings of the 2nd ANR Agricultural Conference, ICMH, Matuail, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp 120–126.
3.
AhmedK. K.HaldarG. C.SahaS. B., and PaulS. K. (1994), ‘Studies on the primary production in Kaptai Reservoir’, Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, Vol 22, pp 69–77.
4.
AhmedK. K., and HambreyJ. B. (1999), ‘Brush shelter: A recently introduced fishing method in the Kaptai Reservoir fisheries in Bangladesh’, NAGA ICLARM Quarterly, Vol 22, pp 20–23.
5.
AhmedK. K.HambreyJ. B., and RahmanS. (2001), ‘Trends in inter-annual yield variation of reservoir fisheries in Bangladesh with special reference to Major Carps’, Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, Vol 6, pp 85–94.
6.
ARG – Aquatic Research Group (1986), Hydrobiology of Kaptai Reservoir, FAO/UNDP Final Report No. DP/BGD/79/015-4/FI, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
7.
AzadiM. A. (1985), ‘Hydrological conditions influencing the spawning of major carps in the Halda river, Chittagong, Bangladesh’, Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, Vol 13, pp 163–172.
8.
BaluyutE. A. (1985), ‘Planning for inland fisheries under constraints from other uses of land and water resource; general considerations and the Philippines’, FAO Fisheries Circular, FAO, Rome.
9.
BFRI-RSS (1993), ‘Population dynamics and stock assessment studies on Kaptai Lake’, Progress Report (1991–1992), BFRI-RSS, Rangamati, Bangladesh.
10.
BFRI-RSS (2000), ‘Studies of production potentiality and management of fisheries of Kaptai Lake’, Annual Progress Report (1999–2000), BFRI-RSS, Rangamati, Bangladesh.
11.
BhukaswanT., and ChookajornT. (1988), ‘Reservoir fisheries management in Thailand’, in De-SilvaS. S., ed, Reservoir Fishery Management and Development in Asia, Proceedings of a workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal, 23–28 November 1987, IDRC-264e, Ottawa, pp 154–157.
12.
BhukaswanT., and PholprasithS. (1976), ‘The fisheries of Ubolratana Reservoir in the first ten years of impoundment’, Technical Paper No. 16, Freshwater Fisheries Division, Department of Fisheries, Bangkok.
13.
BorreL.BarkerD. R., and DukerL. E. (2001), ‘Institutional arrangements for managing the great lakes of the world: Results of a workshop on implementing the watershed approach’, Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, Vol 6, pp 199–209.
14.
ChilcoteM. W.LeiderS. A., and LochJ. J. (1986), ‘Differential reproductive success of hatchery and wild summer-run steelhead under natural conditions’, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, Vol 115, pp 726–735.
15.
ChowdhuryS. C., and MazumdarA. (1981), ‘Limnology of Lake Kaptai – 1: Physico-chemical features’, Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, Vol 9, pp 59–72.
16.
FernandoC. H. (1980), ‘The fishery potential of man made lakes in South East Asia and some strategies for its optimization’, in BIOTROP Anniversary Publication, Bogor, Indonesia, pp 23–28.
17.
FernandoC. H. (1998), Lacustrine Fishes and Their Role in Asian Reservoirs, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Ontario.
18.
FernandoC. H., and HolcikJ. (1991), ‘Fish in reservoirs’, International Review of Hydrobiology, Vol 76, pp 149–167.
19.
HaldarG. C.AhmedK. K.AlamgirM.AkhterJ. N., and RahmanM. K. (2003), ‘Fisheries of Kaptai Reservoir, Bangladesh’, in CowxI. G., ed, Management and Ecology of Lake and Reservoir Fisheries, Fishing News Books, Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 144–158.
20.
HyeM. A. (1988), ‘Socio-economic condition of Kaptai Lake fisherman’, Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, Vol 3, pp 23–33.
21.
HyeM. A., and AlamgirM. (1992), ‘Investigation on the natural spawning of carps in Lake Kaptai’, Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, Vol 20, pp 27–33.
22.
JenkinsR. M. (1985), Final Report on the Planning, Implementation and Follow-Up of Fishery Management of Kaptai Lake, Aquatic Research Group, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
23.
JhingranA. G. (1992), ‘Recent advances in reservoir fisheries management in India’, in De SilvaS. S., ed, Reservoir Fisheries of Asia, Proceedings of the 2nd Asian Reservoir Fisheries Workshop, IDRC-Ottawa, Ontario, pp 158–175.
24.
MesbahuddinM. (1966), ‘Limnology of Karnafuli reservoir and fish production’ (mimeo), BFRI-RSS, Rangamati, Bangladesh.
25.
NtibaM. J.KudojaW. M., and MukasaC. T. (2001), ‘Management issues in the Lake Victoria watershed’, Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, Vol 6, pp 211–216.
26.
PawaputanonO. (1986), ‘Fisheries and fishery management of large reservoirs in Thailand’, in MacleanJ. L.DizonL. B., and HosillosL. V., eds, The First Asian Fisheries Forum, Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp 389–392.
27.
SandercookF. K. (1966), Chittagong Hill Tracts Soil and Land Use Survey, Volume 4: Fisheries (Canadian Colombo Plan Project F-475), East Pakistan Agricultural Development Corporation, Karachi.
28.
SharmaR. C. (1988), ‘Aims and strategies of fisheries management for the Tehri Dam Reservoir in the Garhwal Himalaya, India’, in De SilvaS. S., ed, Reservoir Fishery Management and Development in Asia, Proceedings of a workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal, 23–28 November 1987, IDRC, Ottawa, Ontario, IDRC – 264e, pp 145–153.
29.
SugunanV. V. (1997), ‘Fisheries management of small water bodies in seven countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America’, FAO Fisheries Circular No. 933, FAO, Rome.
30.
ThompsonP. M.SultanaP., and IslamN. (2003), ‘Lessons from community based management of floodplain fisheries in Bangladesh’, Journal of Environmental Management, Vol 69, pp 307–321.
31.
WalburgC. H. (1976), ‘Changes in the fish population of Lewis and Clark lake, 1956–1974, and their relation to water management and the environment’, Research Report No. 79, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
