Home ›› 25 Aug 2021 ›› Nation
Hundreds of members of the fishing community across the Sirajganj district are involved in massive snail poaching from Chalan Beel (water body) posing threat to its biodiversity.
Chalan Beel — considered to be the country’s largest water reservoir — has lost its flow and capacity to hold water with its’ water level declining, said Morzina Islam, professor of Department of Zoology, Tarash Degree College.
The mindless development projects along the beel blocking its water flow, grabbing its lands and the recent spree of digging unplanned ponds have long been contributing to the decline in water level of the water body, she said.
The fishermen of this water body, who are not getting enough catches to make a living, are opting for snail poaching, as it has a high demand on the local markets.
Fishermen from Tarash upazila’s Naogaon, Saguna, Magura, Binod, Baruhash villages under Sirajganj catch snails and seashells from various water bodies and sell them as poultry feed to the poultry farmers of the area, said the local fishermen.
Visiting the area, a vast stretch of Chalan Beel, including different rivers, canals, and ponds, was seen abuzz with seasonal fishermen and their families who were busy catching and packing snails for sale.
After meeting the local demand, the snails are shipped to other districts such as Khulna, Satkhira, Kushtia, Noakhali, Barishal, Bagerhat, and Jashore.
Siddik Hossain, Rafique Sarker, Robi, Yasin along with other fishermen told The Business Post that they understand that excessive snail culling is harmful for the water reservoir but it is essential for their survival.
“Our livelihood solely depends on fishing, but due to the low water level in the water bodies, we are not getting enough fish to sell in the markets. Therefore we are collecting snails to run our families,” said fisherman Rafique Sarker.
The fishermen start gathering the snails, seashells at dawn and continue until their sacks are full.
“We collect two to three sacks of snails a day. Each sack sells for Tk350 to Tk400, and we earn Tk500 to Tk600 each a day,” said Masud, an amateur fisherman of the area.
Abdul Kadir, a local snail trader, told The Business Post that he buys 2000 to 2500 sacks of snails from the Hatikumrul-Bonpara highway and sells it to other traders around the country.
Alam Sheikh, a poultry farmer of Barishal, who came to the Kundail Ghat to buy snails for his duck farm, said, “A sack of poultry feed made with snails costs Tk2000 to Tk2500 whereas we can buy a sack of fresh snails for Tk35o to Tk400, which is much cheaper, easier and nutritious for ducks.”
Addressing the harmful effects of excessive snail depletion in Chalan Beel, Professor Morzina said, “Snails play an important role in the ecosystem by helping maintain the food chain in nature. If it gets removed from the water body, the biodiversity of the beel will be challenged,” said Morzina Islam, lecturer of Department of Zoology, Tarash Degree College.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Tarash, Md Mejbaul Karim told The Business Post that they did not know the severity of the situation. “It is terrible that the beel — which used to hold water round the year — is now facing a decline in surface and groundwater.”
“We will take steps to preserve the water body and punitive measures to stop excessive snail poaching,” he added.
