The government is planning to take up 13 development projects, aiming to achieve the target of producing 45.52 metric tons of fish at the end of 2021.
According to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, the government is preparing to approve the new development projects apart from the ongoing 19 development ones being implemented in the outgoing fiscal year (2014-15).
"These projects will help boost fish production and meet the demand of the animal protein," a senior official at the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry said.
The 13 projects are: Fishery resources development in greater Comilla, Upgradation of the methodology of the fishery resource survey, Fishery resources development in greater Jessore, Increasing the fish production through renovation of wetlands, Controlling formalin usage for fish preservation and creating public awareness (2nd Phase), Fish and shrimp production management in coastal areas, Development of fishery resources in Southwestern region, Strengthening monitoring, control and surveillance system in the Bay of Bengal, Establishment of Fishery Diploma Institutes in Brahmanbaria, Khulna, Kusthia, Netrakona, Dinajpur and Sylhet districts, Development of fisheries in Barendra area (2nd Phase), Fish and shrimp production management in Cox's Bazar district and Society-based fish cultivation in low-lying areas.
The official said some projects of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry for boosting fish production are already being implemented across the country.
He hoped that in the first part of the next fiscal year these new projects would get approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
"Once these projects are implemented, those will help create more employment opportunities in this sector and raise GDP ultimately," he said.
According to a report of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bangladesh is now the fourth major fish-producing country in the world as it has raised production from 7.5 lakh metric tonnes to 35 lakh metric tonnes in the last three decades, thanks to the steady growth in inland fish production from aquaculture.
According to the study titled 'The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2014', Bangladesh currently produces around 34.9 lakh MT of fish a year following China, India and Myanmar.
Out of the total production, around 20 lakh MT comes from aquaculture.
As per the official data, the fishery sector contributes 3.69 percent to the GDP, 22.60 percent of the total agriculture-based income and two percent of the export earning comes from this sector.
Fish fulfills 60 percent of the total animal protein demand in Bangladesh and 1.77 crore people or 11 percent of the population directly or indirectly involved in various activities centering the fisheries sector.    ?UNB