Can smarter ponds transform Bangladesh’s fish economy?
Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector is constrained by low productivity and inconsistent water quality. Technologies could improve efficiency, but their success will depend on financing, farmer adoption, technical capacity and stronger market linkages
Informally known as maacher jela (the land of fish), Mymensingh has earned its reputation as Bangladesh's leading fish-producing district. Drive out of the city and deeper into the countryside, the landscape gives way to acre after acre of fish farms and hatcheries.
For nearly two decades, farmer Mahbub Alam has built his livelihood around aquaculture. On his five-acre farm in Balia, on the border of Fulpur and Tarakanda upazilas, he has navigated the challenges and opportunities of fish farming.
Mymensingh's thriving aquaculture sector has also spurred the growth of fisheries-related institutions, including the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute. More recently, the establishment of an Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (CoE) has introduced farmers to advanced production technologies that could reshape the sector.
After visiting the newly established centre, Mahbub became interested in adopting the pond-based Recirculating Aquaculture System (Pond RAS). He had previously come across the technology on YouTube, but having access to technical support close to home has encouraged him to explore it more seriously.
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"In my opinion, this is a highly suitable system for the current time," Mahbub said. He plans to introduce the technology to his own ponds next year.
Mahbub believes access to scientific knowledge and modern farming techniques could significantly improve productivity and profitability.
The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence was established by Foodtech Bangladesh, a five-year public-private partnership launched in 2022 with co-funding from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. Implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners, the programme brings together Bangladeshi and Dutch partners to promote technology transfer, train farmers, establish commercial pilot projects and strengthen market linkages.
Currently, around 95–97% of aquaculture in Bangladesh still relies on extensive farming methods. Although these systems are affordable and widely practised, they produce relatively low yields. Since fish production per square metre is limited, the cost of producing each kilogram of fish remains comparatively high.
For farmers like Mahbub, the Aquaculture CoE provides access to modern aquaculture technologies close to home. The centre is designed to showcase systems such as Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and In-Pond Raceway Systems (IPRS), while assessing how these technologies perform under Bangladesh's farming conditions.
So, what exactly is RAS, and why has it captured the interest of farmers like Mahbub?
At its core, the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) is based on a simple idea: instead of discarding used water and constantly bringing in fresh water, the system continuously cleans and recirculates the same water. This allows farmers to create a more controlled environment where fish can grow under stable water-quality conditions.
The system relies on two filtration processes. Mechanical filters remove solid waste from the water, while biological filters use beneficial bacteria to break down toxic ammonia produced by fish waste into less harmful compounds. The purified water is then returned to the culture system, keeping the cycle running.
With greater control over oxygen levels and water quality, farmers can stock fish at much higher densities than traditional ponds allow.
"In traditional ponds, maintaining consistent water quality is difficult. But in a mechanised system, water is continuously filtered and oxygen levels remain stable, creating a healthier environment for fish growth," said Md Ariful Islam, assistant manager, Research and Development, Fishtech (BD) Limited.
According to Ariful, the benefits are also reflected in the quality of the final product.
"Because fish are raised in cleaner water with minimal contact with pond soil, they develop a fresher appearance, better colour, firmer texture and superior taste. Healthier fish also mean fewer disease outbreaks and more consistent production," he said.
But controlling the farming environment is only one part of the story. Can a more controlled production system also improve the quality of fish that reaches consumers?
Dr M N Sarker, former national consultant for the Department of Fisheries, believes technologies such as RAS could help address some of the long-standing challenges facing Bangladesh's aquaculture sector.
"Mymensingh became Bangladesh's leading aquaculture region because of its favourable environmental conditions, particularly for carp, tilapia and pangasius farming. Its shallow groundwater made pond construction easier than in many other districts," he explained.
However, he said the rapid expansion of fish farming also raised concerns about quality.
"Many of these fish were produced under poor hygienic conditions. Although they were affordable and helped meet the nutritional needs of millions, quality remained an issue," Dr Sarker said.
He added that while farmers gradually improved feed quality, maintaining consistent water quality remained a challenge.
"In the past, many people believed that simply putting fish into water was enough. Later, they focused on improving feed quality but still struggled to maintain proper water conditions. That is one reason some locally produced fish do not always meet consumer expectations," he said.
These experiments with advanced aquaculture technologies are not limited to one location or one species. At the Mymensingh CoE, the current focus is on tilapia production, with plans to introduce pabda in the future.
In Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Foodtech has established a large-scale In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS) targeting commercial investors. Tilapia is currently being farmed there, while coral (Asian seabass) is planned for future production.
In Patuakhali, the focus has shifted to freshwater prawn (golda) farming. Through a mechanised hatchery system, Foodtech is introducing monosex prawn culture by raising only male prawns, which grow larger and more uniformly than mixed populations.
The initiative also addresses one of the biggest challenges in prawn farming: maintaining suitable growing conditions throughout the year. Because golda prawns require temperatures of around 29°C for optimal growth, traditional farming often struggles with seasonal fluctuations.
Whether Bangladesh falls behind or not depends on how effectively we implement these technologies, how efficiently we produce fish, and how successfully we market the final product. If fish farmers can sell their fish easily and earn a reasonable profit, they will naturally become interested in adopting these technologies.
"With modern temperature control systems, farmers can maintain ideal conditions throughout the year, ensuring consistent production," Ariful said.
The RAS nursery system has also improved survival rates. Previously, farmers needed around 45 days to nurse prawn post-larvae, with mortality rates reaching nearly 40%. With the new system, farmers can stock five times more post-larvae in the same area, while mortality has fallen to around 20%, according to Foodtech.
The economic potential
Zahedul Amin, managing director of LightCastle Partners, believes semi-intensive farming technologies can help Bangladesh overcome land constraints and improve production efficiency.
"Under extensive farming, a farmer may produce approximately 1 to 1.5 kilograms of fish per square metre. With semi-intensive farming, production can increase six to ten times from the same area," he said.
Higher productivity can also reduce production costs. According to Zahedul, widespread adoption of these technologies could lower fish prices by 40–50% compared with current market levels.
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest producer of inland and freshwater fish and ranks fifth globally in overall aquaculture production, with annual output exceeding 5.02 million metric tonnes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
While countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia benefit from stronger export structures and trade advantages, Bangladesh remains a major force in inland fish production and domestic consumption.
Dr Sarker believes improving production standards will be essential if Bangladesh wants to compete internationally.
"Many initially questioned why such advanced and expensive technology was necessary when conventional farming already existed. The answer is simple: fish produced through RAS have better nutrition, texture and overall quality, making them more competitive in both domestic and export markets," he said.
Zahedul believes the biggest challenge is not the technology itself, but persuading farmers to adopt it.
"These are internationally recognised aquaculture technologies. The challenge is convincing farmers that they can work under Bangladesh's conditions and that the investment can be recovered," he said.
The purpose of the Centres of Excellence is to demonstrate that these systems can be practical and profitable for local farmers. Foodtech estimates that farmers may need to invest around Tk6 lakh to Tk8 lakh to establish similar facilities.
"If farmers adopt these systems, productivity can increase five to six times, reducing production costs while improving profitability. We expect farmers to recover their investment within three to three and a half years," Zahedul said.
The Department of Fisheries is also working to build farmers' technical capacity in RAS and In-Pond Raceway Systems (IPRS) through training programmes in Rajshahi.
"We plan to include these technologies in our training programmes. This is important because these are scientific production systems," said Dr Md Khaled Konok, acting director general of the Department of Fisheries.
Rather than introducing the technologies directly to marginal farmers, Dr Khaled believes they should first be adopted by innovative entrepreneurs and medium- to large-scale fish farmers who are already actively engaged in aquaculture.
"Whether Bangladesh falls behind or not depends on how effectively we implement these technologies, how efficiently we produce fish, and how successfully we market the final product. If fish farmers can sell their fish easily and earn a reasonable profit, they will naturally become interested in adopting these technologies."
However, if they cannot market their fish properly, he warns progress will inevitably slow down.
"The entire ecosystem is interconnected. Once these entrepreneurs successfully adopt the technology, it will create interest and confidence among other farmers. Gradually, the technology will spread to the grassroots level. It cannot happen overnight, but over time it certainly can," he said.
Entrepreneur Kamruzzaman Shovon of Diamond Agro Industries also sees strong potential in these technologies. After visiting the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, he said semi-intensive production systems could increase output, reduce costs and improve access to high-value export markets.
While acknowledging that financing remains a challenge for small farmers, he believes adopting these technologies is essential.
Although Bangladesh Bank and state-owned commercial banks allocate funds for agricultural and fisheries loans, financing and other government support often do not reach farmers and grassroots communities effectively.
Dr Khaled believes this gap can be addressed through closer coordination between the Department of Fisheries, microfinance institutions and banks.
