National fisheries week 2025 begins tomorrow
Farida Akhtar, Adviser on Fisheries and Livestock to the Government of Bangladesh, announced that 16 individuals and organisations will receive the National Fisheries Awards 2025 across seven categories, in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
These prestigious awards—gold, silver, and bronze medals—will be presented by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the opening ceremony of Fisheries Week, highlighting the sector's vital role in Bangladesh's progress.
Adviser Akhtar made the announcement at a press conference held this morning in the Ministry's conference room to mark the forthcoming National Fisheries Week, scheduled from July 22 to 28, 2025, at national, district, and upazila levels. This year's observance has been specially dedicated to honouring the martyrs and the injured of the July Uprising.
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The week's programme will focus on celebrating excellence and raising awareness about the importance of fisheries to Bangladesh—through the award ceremony, campaigns, seminars, workshops, and exhibitions. Adviser Akhtar emphasized the sector's crucial role in providing safe protein, generating employment, facilitating exports, earning foreign currency, and promoting socio-economic development.
She noted that Bangladesh has 3.86 million hectares of inland open waters, 0.85 million hectares of ponds, and an exclusive economic zone of 118,813 km². "Thanks to effective policies, Bangladesh is self-sufficient in fish," she said.
Looking ahead, the Adviser stressed the importance of science-based, environmentally friendly fishing practices, sustainable aquaculture, and marine resource management. Plans include establishing refuges for native and endangered species in inland waters, where 669 sanctuaries are already in operation, with more to follow.
Adviser Akhtar highlighted the sector's 2.53% share of GDP and its annual production of 5 million tonnes of fish, which sustains over 2 million livelihoods. "Per-capita fish consumption is now 67.80 grams per day, above the 60-gram recommendation," she added.
She also praised recent government measures to conserve fish stocks, notably reducing the marine fishing ban from 65 to 58 days (April 15–June 11) by amending the Marine Fisheries Rules 2023. During the closed seasons for Hilsa and juveniles, the government provided rice under the VGF programme to 126,549 fishing families in FY 2024–25 and proposed increasing the ration to 50 kg per family.
The press conference was attended by Md Tofazzel Hossain, Secretary (in charge), Md Imam Uddin Kabir and Syeda Nowara Jahan, Additional Secretaries; and Dr Md Abdur Rauf, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, among others.
Guided by the theme, "Establish Sanctuaries, Let Local Fish Fill the Nation's Plate," National Fisheries Week launches tomorrow with awards and events nationwide, underscoring the sector's contribution to food security and livelihoods.
