AQUATIC FAUNA OF BANGLADESH: PRESENT STATUS AND HISTORY OF RECORDING AND DOCUMENTATION

Bangladesh is ranked third largest in inland fisheries in Asia behind China and India. The rich aquatic biodiversity of the country has been attributed to the world's one of the largest wetlands (Bengal Delta) and three large river systems (Brahmaputra, Ganges and Jamuna) that flow from the Himalayan Mountains into the Bay of Bengal. Huge inland fisheries resources supply fish and other aquatic animals and plants to millions of people living in the Delta.

Nevertheless, so far no country wide survey has been conducted to evaluate the biodiversity status and habitat condition of the aquatic organisms of Bangladesh. Therefore we do not even know how many aquatic species were there in Bangladesh hundred years ago and presently how many species are left for sure and how many have already been extinct and the level of threat to others. Even in recent times, there are new recordings of fish, shellfish and others aquatic organisms. Documented or undocumented - many species are already in crisis and despite meager conservation initiatives it may already be too late to save them from extinction. Sadly, most people are oblivious to the diversity of species that inhabit B innumerable rivers, streams and waterbodies of the country- how sad it is to think that a significant proportion of these splendid fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms could be lost forever - their names unknown, their beauty and value never fully appreciated. Indeed, there may be no place in the world where effects of climate change and other natural/anthropogenic activities on aquatic biodiversity are more apparent than in Bangladesh.

Here an attempt has been made to review the historical trends of documentation of aquatic species in the country, present status of aquatic diversity, the basis of dwindling trend, and to identify the problems and constraints thereby to provide some recommendations in the context of overall developments of conservation approaches.