RAJSHAHI, June 8, 2024 (BSS)- State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Abdul Wadud today said that good aquaculture practice is very vital for boosting the country's export list besides ensuring safe fish and its production.

He viewed there should be adequate measures to bring all the fish growers, traders, feed manufactures, sellers and others concerned are under necessary training to enhance their awareness in this field.

The state minister came up with these observations while inaugurating a two-day international conference on fisheries and aquaculture at Rajshahi University (RU) as chief guest.

RU Fisheries Faculty and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum jointly organized the conference titled "Smart Aquaculture and Fisheries for Safe Food Production" at RU Senate Building.

RU Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar, Pro-VCs Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir and VC of Sylhet Agricultural University Prof Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan spoke as special guests with Dean of Fisheries Faculty Prof Mustafizur Rahman Mondal in the chair.

Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries Syed Muhammad Alamgir, Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Dr Zulfiker Ali and Country Representative of World Fish Bangladesh Dr Binoy Kumar Barman also addressed the opening ceremony.

State Minister Abdul Wadud said all quarters like fish farmers, hatchery owners, fish sellers, fish meal manufacturers and sellers and the field level fisheries officers and staff should work together for safe fish production.

There is no alternative to substantial and sustainable promotion of good aquaculture practice.

He mentioned that safe fish production and its marketing have become a big challenge at present.

To this end, emphasis should be given on safe fish farming besides promoting its production through the best use of hygienic fish feed alongside the existing natural resources.

In addition to the administrative measures, time has come to forge a social resistance against the manufacturing of adulterated and unhygienic fish meals, its marketing and use of formalin in fishes.

The traders can keep their fishes alive for a good number of days if they adopt some simple techniques instead of using formalin.

The state minister suggested providing the farmers with the latest scientific technologies and knowledge for producing quality fish fries and fingerlings for more fish cultivation.
He called for involving more people in fish farming to meet the protein demand as fish fulfil at least 60 percent of the animal protein especially of the poor and marginal communities.

Prof Anilav Kabiraj from Kolyani University in India presented the keynote paper of the conference, while Prof Akhter Hossain from RU Fisheries Department spoke on it.

Salient features of the conference are: one plenary session, one business session, five parallel technical sessions and four thematic poster sessions.

Around 400 teachers, researchers and others concerned from home and abroad are taking part in the two-day conference.