Photo : BSS

KHULNA, June 20, 2025 (BSS) - Experts at a workshop today emphasized the urgent need to modernize and enhance the capacity of government-run fish farms, citing the sector's immense potential to contribute to Bangladesh's foreign exchange earnings through increased exports of shrimp, white fish, crab, and marine species.

Speaking at the workshop, held at the District Fisheries Officer's Office at the Gallamari Government Fish Production Farm in Khulna, officials underscored the strategic importance of upgrading infrastructure and adopting modern techniques to improve productivity and operational efficiency in the fisheries sector.

The event was organized under the government project titled "Infrastructure Development for Enhancing the Capacity and Fish Production of Existing Government Fish Farms (Phase-1)" for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

Addressing the event as the chief guest, Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, said that the fisheries sector now plays a critical role in Bangladesh's economy, contributing significantly to GDP and foreign currency earnings, alongside exports from garments, tea, leather, and agriculture.

"The government has already taken significant steps to increase fish production and elevate Bangladesh's global standing in the sector. However, compared to other Asian countries, we still lag behind in fully tapping this opportunity," he noted.

Dr. Rouf urged both government officials and private stakeholders to work collaboratively and with sincerity to ensure the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

Presided over by Md. Jahangir Alam, director of the Department of Fisheries for Khulna Division, the session was conducted by Md. Selim Sultan, Senior Fisheries Officer of Batiaghata, Khulna.

The workshop centered on strategic planning for the modernization and enhancement of government fish farms to boost production and improve operational efficiency.

Key objectives included upgrading infrastructure, increasing farm productivity, enhancing the skills of field-level officials, fostering collaboration among farms, and promoting sustainable development.

Discussions covered advanced farm management techniques, high-quality fish fry production and distribution, disease prevention, infrastructure development, and effective marketing strategies.

Md. Mashiur Rahman, director of the Development Project; Md. Anwar Kabir, senior assistant director (Administration-2); Md. Badruzzaman, District Fisheries Officer, Khulna and Mostafa Al Aziz, assistant director, Department of Fisheries, Khulna addressed the event as special guests. 

The outcomes of the workshop are expected to strengthen government fish farms and play a vital role in increasing the nation's overall fish production.