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The phrase “Machhe Bhate Bangali” (fish and rice make a Bengali) is more than just a saying; it’s a cultural ethos that highlights the critical role of fisheries in Bangladesh’s identity and economy. In Bangladesh, approximately 12% of the population relies on fisheries for their livelihood, Aquaculture in Bangladesh contributes 2.53% to the national GDP and supplies around 60% of the country’s animal protein intake.
The Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2023-24, published by the Department of Fisheries, reports that in FY 2023-24 the country reached a remarkable fish production of 5.02 million metric tons, exceeding the target of 4.89 million metric tons and accounting for 0.90% of Bangladesh’s total export earnings.
Bangladesh’s fisheries are broadly split into the Inland and Marine sectors. Inland fisheries include Capture and Culture types, but with rising land costs and shrinking arable areas, culture fisheries, especially high-density, intensively managed systems, are becoming increasingly vital for sustainable production and meeting growing demand.
Figure: Sector-Wise Production Trend (Source: Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2023-24)
The graph highlights the strong dependence of Bangladesh’s fisheries sector on aquaculture expansion, while capture and marine fisheries remain relatively stagnant. The rising contribution from culture fisheries underlines the sector’s modernization and technical advancement.
Figure: Fish production By Waterbody (Source: Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2023-24)
The graph underscores that pond aquaculture is the largest and fastest-growing contributor, while shrimp farms and seasonal cultured waterbodies maintain steady but comparatively minor roles in Bangladesh’s fish production.
Figure: Fish Production By Species (Source: Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2023-24)
The chart shows that Bangladesh’s aquaculture production is concentrated among a few dominant species (Sarpunti, Pangas, Tilapia, Rui), while many traditional and indigenous species contribute smaller volumes. This trend indicates a shift toward commercially viable and fast-growing species in modern aquaculture.
The achievements in the fisheries sector reflect the technical advancement it has experienced, particularly through the expansion of modern farming methods. In fiscal year 2023-24, aquaculture was the primary driver of growth in Bangladesh’s fisheries, contributing 59.34% (2.978 million MT) of the total 5.02 million MT fish production from inland closed water sources.
Within this, pond aquaculture was the most significant contributor at 47.20%, followed by shrimp/prawn farms (6.28%), seasonal cultured waterbodies (4.92%), pen culture (0.36%), and cage culture (0.11%). The distribution of pond area and production is:
Figure: The distribution of pond area and production in Bangladesh for FY23-24
The total inland aquaculture (closed water) production, encompassing ponds, seasonal cultured water bodies, baors, shrimp/prawn farms, pen culture, and cage culture, amounts to approximately 2.98 million metric tons. Among these, pond aquaculture is the most significant contributor with about 2.37 million metric tons, while cage culture, though a smaller segment, contributes 5,452 metric tons and shows growth.
Bangladesh is transitioning from traditional extensive aquaculture to semi-intensive and eventually intensive practices to address land pressure, raise productivity, meet socio-economic goals, and adhere to evolving environmental and market standards. Semi-intensive farming offers a balanced, scalable solution that is less resource-intensive than full-scale industrial operations but far more efficient and profitable than traditional methods.
The graph justifies the transition, while extensive farming underutilizes land, intensive and highly intensive systems deliver higher yields, better efficiency, and greater profitability, aligning with Bangladesh’s aquaculture modernization goals.
The top 5 districts for aquaculture production based on pond and other cultured waterbody data are (total aquaculture including pond, seasonal cultured waterbody, baor, shrimp farms).
Figure: Top 5 Districts for Aquaculture Production
A glimpse of technical advancement can also be seen in the export percentage. Bangladesh generates significant foreign exchange from the export of fish, shrimp, and other fishery products, which account for 0.91% of total national export earnings (EPB 2024). In FY 2023–24, the country earned BDT 4,531.86 crore by exporting nearly 77 thousand MT of fish and fishery products.
Moreover, the Government has adopted various modern technologies and a business-friendly supply chain to boost the shrimp production, as shrimp is one of the major export items. Over the last five years, the fisheries sector has fluctuated in the percentage of export value.
While there was a decline from 2019-20 to 2022-23, partly due to compliance issues with international food safety and quality standards, a positive turnaround is evident in the most recent year as producers increasingly meet these requirements, restoring confidence in global markets.
Bangladesh’s fishery export earnings heavily rely on shrimp, particularly the traditional large shrimp species like Bagda (Tiger shrimp), which dominates the export value despite lower export quantities than other fish products. While shrimp exports form a critical foreign currency source, Bangladesh faces challenges adapting to the growing dominance of Vannamei shrimp culture globally.
The country’s shrimp exports, dominated by traditional Bagda (black tiger) shrimp, face declining competitiveness as global markets shift to high-yield Vannamei shrimp. Vannamei can produce 7,000–8,000 kg per hectare, offering better disease resistance, adaptability, and lower costs. To boost exports and revive the sector, farms in Khulna and other coastal areas have begun trial Vannamei farming.
Table 2: The export quantities and values for fish and fishery products in the fiscal year 2023-24 (Source: Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2023-24)
| Product | Quantity (MT) | Export Value (Crore Taka) | (%) of Total Export Value |
| Shrimp/Prawn | 19,131.35 | 2,117.67 | 46.70% |
| Other Fish & Products | 57,276.59 | 2,414.19 | 53.30% |
| Total | 77,407.94 | 4,531.86 | 100% |
Despite several impressive local and international gains, structural challenges exist.
The existing challenges in the fisheries sector include:
1. Decline in shrimp production by 3.99% in 2023-24, impacted by:
2. Decline in seed quality in carp aquaculture with factors including:
3. Decrease in inland capture fishery share from 62.59% (1983-84) to 28.13% (2023-24) due to:
4. Need for improved aquaculture technologies and sustainable practices.
5. Requirement for capacity building and institutional strengthening for hatchery operators and fisher communities.
6. Ongoing efforts for ecosystem protection (fish sanctuaries, hilsa sanctuaries, seasonal bans).
7. Challenges in scaling up Vannamei shrimp culture to compete globally.
These challenges also create opportunities for investors to introduce more sustainable aquaculture techniques in Bangladesh, develop advanced water-quality solutions, and train farmers in modern hatchery practices.
Bangladesh is already implementing multiple public–private partnership projects to strengthen its aquaculture sector. One notable example is FoodTechBangladesh, a five-year program (September 2022–August 2027) led jointly by Larive International B.V. of the Netherlands and LightCastle Partners Ltd. of Bangladesh.
The initiative plans to establish four Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Khulna, Mymensingh, Patuakhali, and Cox’s Bazar by 2027. The Khulna CoE is already operational, while the Cox’s Bazar CoE is scheduled to launch by September 2025. This program aims to train 1,800 farmers nationwide in modern aquaculture practices.
Looking ahead, despite the fisheries sector showing steady progress, aquaculture development in Bangladesh remains a work in progress, requiring continued investment and policy support.
Faiza Tahiya, Business Analyst at LightCastle Partners authored up the article, for any queries, please reach out to [email protected]
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