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NATIoNAL FISH FoRTNIGHT BEGINS ToDAY

30 lakh tonnes fish production by 2008 : Noman

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The government has taken up seven new projects to raise country's fish production to 30 lakh metric tons by 2008, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman at a press conference in the city yesterday.
He said if the projects are implemented properly, the country will have a substantial exportable surplus of fish after satisfying the domestic demand.
The press conference was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the secretariat on the eve of the National Fish Fortnight 2005 which is being observed throughout the country from today.
The minister said more than 1.20 crore people of the country depend directly or indirectly on fishing.
"About 4.92 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) comes from fisheries sector which contributes to 5.71 percent of our export earnings," he added.
Noman said the country earned Tk 2572 crore by exporting 63,338 metric tons of shrimp in last fiscal year.
The minister said there are 52.31 lakh hectares of fresh water bodies and the country can achieve quick economic prosperity by producing fish in those vast areas.
He however said there were about 807 species of fish in the country of which 54 species are on the verge of extinction.
"We have to conserve the rare species to protect our bio-diversity and meet the protein requirement of the people," he added.
Noman said to protect Jatka (undersized Hilsha fish) and egg-
loaded Hilsha, the government made a budgetary allocation of Tk 10 crore as alternative source of income for the fishermen who catch those fishes.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Abdul Karim and Director General of the fisheries department Nasiruddin Ahmed also spoke.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the fortnight at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre today.
A commemorative postage stamp will be released marking the occasion.
This year the slogan of the fortnight is 'Haor-Baor, Floodplains: Goldmines for fish cultivation.'
The fisheries department has chalked out elaborate programmes at local and national level to observe the fortnight in a befitting manner.