Efficiency of oxbow lake management systems in Bangladesh to introduce cage culture for resource-poor fisheries

A total of 5488 ha of oxbow lakes in Bangladesh has recently gained importa nce as a potential fishery resource. The growing need to utilize this resou rce to a fuller potential requires consideration of cage culture by resourc e-poor fishing communities as a compliment to existing stock enhancement pr ogrammes. In the present study, the existing management systems of eight la kes are reviewed. Water quality was analysed with reference to the largest lake, i.e. Lake Baluhar. During the present study, > 100 cm transparency in dicated the suitability of a lake for cage culture. Other water quality par ameters, especially dissolved oxygen, ammonia and nitrite concentrations, a lso indicated suitability for cage culture. Non-fisheries activities, such as the use of agricultural pesticides in the lake catchment and jute rettin g in its basin, were identified as the most harmful to fish by the majority of the fishermen. An integrated pest management programme using rice-fish based rearing systems in the lake catchment is recommended. It is further r ecommended that a unified management system should replace the existing dis persed systems under different management bodies.