Livelihood Status of Fishing Communities and Fish Biodiversity of Galachipa River in the Southern Coastal Area of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted to address the living status of the fishing community and fish biodiversity of the Galachipa River in the Patuakhali district of Bangladesh. For data collection, thirty people involved in fishing activities were interviewed through PRA tools and techniques. Results revealed that 43% of fishermen were young (age < 35). It was found that 90% of fishers were Muslim and 10% were Hindus; among them 53% were illiterate, 30% could only give a signature, and 17% received primary education. Early marriage (between 16 to 20 years) was very common in the fisher community due to illiteracy and unconsciousness. The number of joint family-led fishermen was 70%. Eighty percent utilized huts as dwellings, with an average of 31.45±22.39 decimal land area, including the homestead. In most cases, they received health services from village doctors and rarely from medical doctors. The usual per capita monthly income of the local fishermen was BDT 7160±844.75, while 65% of them possess their own fishing nets and boats. During the study period, 46 fish species under 31 families were identified from the different catches of fishermen, among which four were critically endangered, five were endangered, whereas 17 species were vulnerable. The current study revealed that fishermen of Galachipa River were dependent exclusively on fishing for their food source as they have no alternate earnings. Illiteracy and the lack of both technical knowledge and proper support were the foremost impediments to the uplifting of their sub-standard lifestyle.