Socio-Economic Characteristics and Fishing Operation Activities of the Artisanal Fishers in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh

The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (SMF) is a complex ecosystem containing the most diverse and abundant natural resources of Bangladesh. The research was designed to investigate the socio-economic characteristics and fishing operation activities of the artisanal fishers in the SMF through case studies. Despite the great importance of mangroves in the livelihood of the artisanal fishermen in the SMF, deforestation is perceived to continue due to illegal logging and deterioration of mangroves for climate change, increased salinity, natural disasters, shrimp farming and household consumption. The consequences are depleted fish and fishery resources, changes in fisher's primary occupation and livelihood status. The present study also elicited several risks and shocks of the fishermen livelihood like the attack by dacoits, hostage, ransom, and attack by tigers, natural disasters, river bank erosion. However, the artisanal fishermen adopted different strategies to cope with the changing conditions by forming associations, violating the fisheries laws and regulations, migrating, sharing responsibilities with the household members, and transmitting local ecological knowledge. This study concludes that there is an urgency to update the existing policies and management issues for the sustainable extraction of the SMF resources for the improvement of the artisanal fishermen livelihood.