Evaluating the socio-economic conditions of fishers and sustainability of small-scale fisheries in the Kalni River, Bangladesh

Small-scale fisheries play a vital role in the economy of Bangladesh, especially in providing livelihood to fishers and foreign exchange. A study on the socio-economic assessment of small-scale fishing and fish availability in the Kalni River in Habiganj district was conducted for four months from May to August 2023. A total of 58 fishers were randomly selected and interviewed for information gathering and pre-checklisting in focus group discussions (FGDs). Of these, 93% were male and the mean age was 36.89 ± 6.43 years. The results showed that the monthly income of fishers ranged from 10,000-20,000 BDT, 20,000-30,000 BDT, and less than 10,000 BDT. The study collected information on various aspects including the type of fishing gear used and the availability…