Socio economic status of fry collectors at Sundarban region

The study was conducted on the livelihood approach of fry collectors at Shyamnagar upazila under Satkhira district. The objective of the study was to assess the present livelihood status, to identify the socio-economic condition and problem associated with the alternative livelihood approach of fry collectors. The survey was conducted on three unions of Shyamnagar upazila adjacent to Sundarban as study area. In the study area average family size was 5 persons per family. The maximum age level was 20-30 years old. Among the fry collectors 66% was male and 34% was female. Among them 62% was Muslim and 38% was Hindu. About 78% of total fry collectors are landless in the study area. Literacy was 31% of them where female literacy was 28% and male literacy was 72% and most of them can sign only. Most of the collectors about 63% lived in mud walled with golpata shed house. About 73% families have two earner and 68% have single family. Peak season of fry collection was March to May. For collecting fry they use push net, set bag net mainly. They collect fry in the early morning and in early evening for about 6-8 hours. Men collect 150-200 pieces of fry per day in peak season and 40-60 pieces of fry by women. Price varies from 800-3500 Tk. per thousand golda fry. Price is higher in the month on March-May. About 52% collectors engaged in fishing during off season as alternative income source. Their preferable alternative income source are sustainable agriculture, fry nursing, poultry farming, planned fish cultivation, cattle and goat rearing etc. The main problem of converting of fry collection to other profession was lack of other training of other works, lack of capital, poor infrastructure.facilities, absence of industrialization, lack of land, government and NGO level work is very limited.