Aquaculture must focus on food safety standards: experts

The aquaculture sector must tackle major challenges to sustain future growth, focusing on quality improvement, food safety standards and certification, post-harvest handling, processing, and value addition, experts said yesterday.

Pollution, climate change, and unsustainable land use are putting increasing pressure on aquatic ecosystems, they added at the opening session of the 10th Biennial Fisheries Conference, organised by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka.

Bangladesh is a leading fish producer, with total production exceeding 5 million tonnes in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and an annual growth rate of about 8 percent. In FY 2024-25, the country earned around $441.58 million from fish and shrimp exports.

Faruk-Ul Islam, country representative of WorldFish Bangladesh, said, "Innovation in aquaculture technologies, disease management, genetic improvement, and alternative feeds will be essential, as will the protection of inland open waters and marine ecosystems through effective governance and co-management."

"Investment in youth, research, automation, blue finance, and legally protected sanctuaries is vital to ensure the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of Bangladesh's aquatic food sector," he added.

Anuradha Bhadra, director general of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, warned, "In an effort to increase production, many of our farmers are using medicines in excess of what is necessary, which is highly harmful to public health. To address this problem, work is currently underway to develop vaccines."

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said, "If food safety is not ensured, increasing fish production has no real value. If fish produced through aquaculture is not safe, it cannot truly be considered fish. This is something we must keep in mind."

FH Ansary, managing director of ACI Agribusiness, said, "Bridging the gap between scientific research and farmers' practices is essential for improving productivity and profitability in the aquaculture sector.

"While research has made significant advances in areas like feed conversion ratios and breed selection, many farmers are unable to access or apply these findings effectively."

"By ensuring that research results are communicated clearly and practically, we can help farmers reduce costs, increase yields, and adopt more sustainable practices," he added.

Md Monirul Islam, professor of Fisheries at Dhaka University, said, "While fish production has increased, greater attention is needed to the nutritional quality and safety of fish to protect public health."

He also highlighted persistent inequalities, saying, "Fish consumption varies across social groups, and women in the fisheries sector often face limited access to decision-making roles, resources, and opportunities."

"Coordinated research, policy action, and stakeholder collaboration are necessary to address these challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries," he stressed.