The fish communities and fisheries of the Sundarbans: Development assistance and dilemmas of the aquatic commons

Abstract

The Sundarbans represent the largest remaining tract of coastal mangrove wetlands in tropical Asia. The dynamics of the fish communities are poorly understood, and current research indicates a fragile ecology. Various development projects have had serious negative impacts on the estuarine fishes in nearby parts of Bangladesh. Impacts on the fisheries tend to affect the poorest elements of the society, the landless subsistence fishermen. The record of development assistance agencies is poor, with respect to the environment in general and fisheries in particular. Taking steps to rectify the problem would include environmental review of projects prior to and during project implementation. Given the lack of a pure research base in the tropics, applied research is often modeled on temperate systems, which can be disastrous. Thus, it is also suggested that basic research on the environment be supported in order to build an understanding of tropical ecosystems prior to any attempts at manipulation of these ecosystems.