Impacts of climate change on fish hatchery productivity in Bangladesh: A critical review

Mohammad Abu Baker Siddique; A K Shakur Ahammad; Abul Bashar; Neaz A Hasan; Balaram Mahalder; Md Mehedi Alam; Jatish Chnadra Biswas; Mohammad Mahfujul Haque

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11951

Impacts of climate change on fish hatchery productivity in Bangladesh: A critical review

Heliyon. 2022 Nov 28;8(12):e11951. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11951. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Mohammad Abu Baker Siddique¹, A K Shakur Ahammad¹, Abul Bashar², Neaz A Hasan², Balaram Mahalder², Md Mehedi Alam³, Jatish Chnadra Biswas⁴, Mohammad Mahfujul Haque²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
² Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Fishery Resources Conservation and Management, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna, Bangladesh.
⁴ Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, BARC Complex, Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical location. Climate change issues have become major concerns in aquaculture industry, particularly for fish hatchery productivity. Fish production in Bangladesh is mainly steered by the aquaculture sector, which is dependent on private hatchery-based fish seed production to a great extent. This review aimed to present the impacts of climate change on fish hatcheries, particularly during different stages of hatchery production, and the economic loss from the onset of disease and other impairments due to environmental causes. Geographically, most hatcheries in Bangladesh are operated within a narrow range of temperature (22.8-23.1 °C, equivalent to 73-73.5 °F) and rainfall (1750-2000 mm). Thus, slightest fluctuations in these parameters affect seed production in fish hatcheries. The broodstock, produced in natural and captive conditions, is severely affected by flash flooding, water quality deterioration, river siltation, erratic rainfall, and temperature fluctuations. Based on our review, temperature fluctuation is the main factor hampering maturation and breeding performances of broodstock. Temperature has also been reported to affect embryonic development and cause stunted growth of larvae and juvenile. In shrimp and prawn hatcheries, fluctuations in temperature, pH, and salinity are responsible for post-larval disease outbreaks. In some instances, storms and heavy rainfall wash away reared broodfish and fish seed from the hatcheries, causing massive socioeconomic losses. This review presents indisputable negative impacts of climate change on hatchery production. As of now, no cost-effective proven strategies have been developed to minimize the effects of climate change on Bangladesh's fish hatchery production, on which the aquaculture industry is inextricably dependent. For sustainable fish hatchery production, basic research on climate impacts on hatcheries is inevitable, as well as improving capacity of hatchery owners are needed for resilient hatchery operations in Bangladesh and similar environments worldwide.

Keywords: Aquaculture; Bangladesh; Broodfish; Climate change; Climatic variables; Disease; Fish hatchery; Seed or post-larvae.

Publication types

Review