Fish and fishery resources play an important role in improving socio-economic status of the fishing communities. Sylhet, the haor (bowl or saucer shape shallow depression) dominated administrative divisions (encompassing RAMSAR site and Ecological Critical Wetland Area) of Bangladesh is very promising for freshwater capture fisheries. But very few studies focused on the overall status on livelihood sustainability of fishing communities in this region. This study identified the demography, livelihood strategy, constraints of fishing and their coping strategies, strength, weakness and opportunity of fishing communities using household questionnaires, oral history interviews, and focus group discussions in Sylhet division (north eastern region of Bangladesh). The study identified physical strength and intention to work all the year round as the key strengths and acute poverty, poor economy, lack of alternative income generating opportunity and reduced fish availability as common weakness of fishers. Major threats facing by the fishers were natural calamities, overexploitation, dependency on natural resources and improper policy implication. Scope of alternative income generating opportunities, training and motivational program among the resource users and community based fisheries management could improve the situation. Findings of this study would provide important guideline for wetland management, planning and development of livelihood sustainability of the fishing communities.

The study was conducted in Nilgaon and Chamurakandi of Sylhet Sadar Upazila under Sylhet district during the 2018-2019 crop seasons. Three orange fleshed sweet potato varieties (BARI SP-04, BARI SP-11 andBARI SP-12)and a local genotype were used in this study. The ultimate purpose of the experiment was to investigate the yield potentiality, suitability and acceptability of those varieties and genotype. The experiment was performed using 10ft x 10ft plot size with 3 replicas following the RCB design. The study showed hat BARI SP-12 performed better and local genotype performed least at both places. In Nilgaon BARI SP-12 gave the highest yield (35.27 t ha-1) followed by BARI SP-04 (34.14 t ha-1),BARI SP-11 (32.26 t ha-1) and the lowest yield was documented in local genotype (24.10 t ha-1). BARI SP-12 also produced the highest yield (32.01 t ha-1) at Chamurakandi followed by BARI SP-04 (28.43 t ha-1),BARI SP-11 (28.00 t ha-1) and the lowest was documented in local genotype (19.46 t ha-1).However, the mean yield of two places appeared the highest in BARI SP-12 (33.64 t ha-1) followed by BARI SP-04 (31.28 t ha-1) and BARI SP-11 (30.13 t ha-1) and the lowest was found in local genotype (21.78 t ha-1). The average foliage yield of two places ranged from 4.82 to 5.38 t ha-1. And no significant variations were found in foliage yield and foliage coverage (%) at both places.In the case of organoleptic assessment of storage roots and leaves, BARI SP-04 was the best choice by the respondents due to its appearances, color, taste, texture and fiber content; BARI SP-12 also got merely similar ranked by the respondents. Considering the yield potential and community acceptability, both BARI SP-04 and BARI SP-12 are suitable and potential for homestead food production system in north eastern region of Bangladesh.

Wetland ecosystem of Bangladesh has great importance for the country’s economic, industrial, ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects. Wetlands of north eastern region are very prominent for freshwater capture fisheries but very studies focused on comprehensive assessment of biodiversity, conservation necessities, affecting drivers and its impact on natural wetland and dependent community. The present study has been conducted to identify the present status of fish diversity assemblage, dominance index, evenness and distribution of the species, conservation requirements, natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the biodiversity and human well-being of Dekhar Haor by employing qualitative and quantitative methods in two fishing communities. It was noticed that there were 69 fish species under 8 orders where 39 species were not threatened, 11 species were endangered, 10 species were vulnerable, 8 species were critically endangered and 1 species were near to threatened. Cypriniformes (55%) was the most dominant order, followed by Siluriformes (16%), Perciformes (10%), Synbranchiformes (4%), and Channiformes (7%), Clupeiformes (3%), Beloniformes (3%) and the rest (2%) belonged to Tetraodontiformes. The present study identified the causes of biodiversity depletion and suggested management measures including establishment of the sanctuary, community-based fisheries management, use of legal fishing gears, proper implementation of fishing laws and regulation. The findings of the study could help to take appropriate natural wetland management strategy.

North Eastern region of Bangladesh is very promising for freshwater capture fisheries, nevertheless comprehensive assessment on faunal composition and diversity asseblages of natural wetlands are scant.This study identifies the occurrence, different biodiversity indices and composition of fish with various gear types by means of qualitative and quantitative approaches in Tanguar haor and Dekar haor. A total of 75 fish species were identified, of which 53% were Cypriniformes, followed by Siluriformes (15%), Perciformes (14%), Channiformes (7%) and Clupeiformes (4%). Among the identified taxa 42 species were not threatened, 12 vulnerable, 11 endangered and 8 critically endangered. The values of diversity indices explicitly Shannon-Weiner (H’), Pielou eveness (J’), Margalef richness (d) and Simpson dominance (c) indices indicated that Tanguar haor were more diversified and evenly distributed than Dekhar haor. For effective management of the haors comprehensive stock assessment, establishment of fish sanctuaries, and combination of input and output control is suggested.

Fish and fishery resources play an important role in improving socio-economic status of the fishing communities. Sylhet, the haor (bowl or saucer shape shallow depression) dominated administrative divisions (encompassing RAMSAR site and Ecological Critical Wetland Area) of Bangladesh is very promising for freshwater capture fisheries. But very few studies focused on the overall status on livelihood sustainability of fishing communities in this region. This study identifies the demography, livelihood strategy, constraints of fishing and their coping strategies, strength, weakness and opportunity of fishing communities using household questionnaires, oral history interviews, and focus group discussions in Sylhet division (north eastern region of Bangladesh). The study identified physical strength and intention to work all the year round as the key strengths and acute poverty, poor economy, lack of alternative income generating opportunity and reduced fish availability as common weakness of fishers. Major threats facing by the fishers are natural calamities, overexploitation, dependency on natural resources and improper policy implication. Scope of alternative income generating opportunities, training and motivational program among the resource users and community based fisheries management can improve the situation. Findings of this study will provide important guideline for wetland management, planning and development of livelihood sustainability of the fishing communities.