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DHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said increasing fisheries production would be meaningless if food safety is not ensured.
"If fish produced through aquaculture is not safe, it cannot truly be considered fish in the real sense, and this must be taken seriously," she said.
The adviser made the remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the 10th Biennial Fisheries Conference held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in the capital. The conference was organised by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum.
Farida Akhter said fish is not merely a source of food to satisfy hunger, but an important provider of essential nutrition. She noted that fish contains vital micronutrients such as calcium and other elements that are crucial for eye health, bone strength and intellectual development.
She also said that fish-based dietary habits have played a significant role in the intellectual development of the nation.
Referring to marine fisheries, the adviser said that only about 30 percent of Bangladesh's marine fishery resources are currently being utilised. She pointed out that artisanal and industrial trawlers catch fish using different methods, and some technologies used by industrial trawlers have recently raised serious concerns.
She mentioned reports indicating that sonar technology, which poses a risk of overfishing in the sea, is being used by nearly 70 out of 223 industrial trawlers operating in the country. Effective policies are needed to address these emerging challenges, she said.
In this context, Farida Akhter added that the government has decided to update the national fisheries policy as a key initiative to ensure sustainable and safe fisheries management.
