Civil society calls for inclusion of fisherfolk in support and AIGA programmes

Civil society representatives in Barishal have urged the government to ensure that small-scale and marginalised fishers, including the floating Manta community, are fully included in food aid and Alternative Income Generation Activities (AIGA) programmes during fishing ban periods.

The call came at a divisional seminar titled “Not just imposing fishing bans -- ensure safe and sustainable livelihoods for small-scale fishers,” organised by COAST Foundation at the Barishal Press Club on Saturday.

Speakers said that while fishing bans are vital for conservation, they have left thousands of small fishers without income or food security. Government allocations remain inadequate -- covering less than one-third of household expenses -- and are often delayed.

Women and children, they noted, face the gravest impacts, including food shortages, rising debt, and increased domestic violence.

A recent COAST Foundation assessment found that 38 per cent of women in fishing families in riverine Barishal suffer domestic violence during ban periods due to economic strain.

The situation is worse for the Manta fishers, who live on boats and remain excluded from registration and social safety schemes.

Presenting the keynote paper, Md Jahirul Islam, District Coordinator of COAST Foundation, said that 85 per cent of Barishal’s fishers depend on river and estuarine fishing. Their monthly income drops from Tk 15,000 to Tk 3,000-4,000 during bans, while food aid lasts barely 10 days.

Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director of COAST Foundation, urged the government to provide 40 kg of rice and Tk 8,000 to each registered fishing family before each ban period and ensure that at least one member gains AIGA employment.

Officials and community leaders emphasised skill training, year-round livelihood support, and the inclusion of floating fishers in national registries.

They added that timely food support, inclusive AIGA programmes, and fair access to government aid are essential to ensure that no fishing family goes hungry during conservation efforts.

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