Cyclone Amphan wreaks havoc on fish farms in coastal areas

Fish farms in coastal districts of Khulna and Barishal divisions have suffered extensive damages due to Cyclone Amphan. 

Data from the Department of Fisheries (DoF) shows that a large number of fish and shrimp enclosures, ponds, along with fish fry of several species were destroyed in these two divisions.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman said, "Around 180,500 enclosures have been inundated due to Cyclone Amphan, which caused a loss of Tk325 crore."  

Earlier, Sarker Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, district fisheries officer (reserve) of DoF, told The Business Standard, "Around 40,787 aqua farmers have incurred a loss of Tk217 crore in Khulna and Barishal divisions."

According to sources, Cyclone Amphan affected 3,198 fin fish farmers and 18,090 shrimp farmers in Khulna division.

The storm also affected 18,501 fin fish farmers and 361 shrimp farmers in Barishal.  

Besides, 637 crab and kuchia fish farmers incurred a loss of Tk2.41 crore in those two divisions. 

Officials of the fisheries department said this was an initial estimation and the figure may go up.   

According to the Khulna district administration, around 21,288 fin fish and shrimp enclosures have been inundated due to Cyclone Amphan.

Narayan Chandra Mandal, deputy director of Khulna division fisheries department, said, "Around 18,090 shrimp and 3198 fish enclosures have been inundated in nine upazilas of Khulna district." 

Koyra is one of the most affected upazilas in Khulna where 5,000 hectares of fish enclosures has been flooded.  

Humayun Kabir, chairman of Koyra Sadar union, said, "Six out seven unions of Koyra have been flooded and damaged severely."

Bachchu Sheikh, a resident of Uttar Vetkashi union in Koyra, said, "One among my three shrimp enclosures was fully washed away by flood water, while two others were partially damaged." 

Aktaruzzaman Babu, local MP of Koyra-Paikgachha upazila, told The Business Standard, "A huge number of shrimp enclosures and crops on a vast area of lands in my area (Khulna-6) has been submerged."

The fish farms in Satkhira have also suffered huge losses due to Cyclone Amphan. 

SM Mostafa Kamal, the deputy commissioner of Satkhira, said the loss in the district was worth more than Tk100 crore.

Meanwhile, Bagerhat suffered losses worth Tk2.90 crore, Barishal Tk2.83 crore, Patukhali Tk7 crore, Jhalakathi Tk3 crore, and Barguna Tk30 lakh, according to DoF and district administrations.   

Md Abu Syed, district fisheries officer of Barishal, said, "Around 369 fish enclosures and 883 ponds have been inundated in Barishal district, which caused a loss of around Tk2.83 crore." 

Waresa Chowdhury, deputy assistant director of DoF, said, "Our local fisheries office informed us that still there was no determination of losses in Chattogram division."