Local residents in Pechar Dwip are spending busy days catching native fish as canals and wetlands dry up during the dry season. In the coastal area of Cox’s Bazar, many small canals and water bodies around the island gradually dry up when seawater from the Bay of Bengal fails to reach them during low tides.
As the water recedes, local people can catch various indigenous fish trapped in the remaining shallow water.
During a visit to the area, locals were seen catching fish in the shallow canals using nets, bamboo traps, and other traditional fishing methods. Some were fishing in groups, while others worked alone to collect fish from shrinking bodies of water.
Nur Fazal, a local resident who came to catch fish, said that during the dry season, there is little rainfall, and seawater does not flow into the canals.
“As a result, the canals and wetlands are drying up. We are trying to catch the remaining fish before the water completely disappears,” he said.
Locals said that during the monsoon season, when the area becomes flooded, they often place branches and twigs in the canals to create fish shelters known locally as jak. When the water level drops in the dry season, the fish gathered in those shelters become easier to catch.
Every year, the sight of villagers catching native fish from drying canals becomes a familiar scene in Pechar Dwip. The fish help supply food for their families, while some residents also sell part of their catch in local markets to earn extra income.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
