BRAC Fisheries

A BRAC Social Enterprise

Responding to country-wide demand from commercial fishermen as wild stocks continue to decline

BRAC Fisheries was established in 1998. BRAC began its fisheries programme as an income-generation sector under its Rural Development programme in 1976 by re-excavating 16 ponds. An overwhelming number of women participated in BRAC's fisheries activities, especially in pond-fish culture. By the end of 1998, around 10,900 participants were involved in fish-culturing activities, covering  half of small- to medium-sized ponds with a total of Tk 806 million in loans disbursed by BRAC for pond-culture. Female participants make up more than 90% of the total membership in BRAC, and so far borrowed Tk 723.4 million. There are 1,09,002 members (90% women) involved in fisheries programmes. Around 1,38,090 participants received training in pond-aquaculture. Total water area under pond aquaculture is 8 712 ha, and the total number of ponds is 105 492. Women dedicated only 10-15% of their total daily work-time to culturing fish in ponds, which is considered a family-based activity.

BRAC Fisheries has produced 18 million larvae for freshwater prawn, 6,125 million carp spawn, and 6 million talapia fry respectively (2008)