Calling for more research to increase the production of fish, they said national research institutions, universities and relevant agencies can also play a vital role in this regard.

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum (BFRF) organised the two-day Second Fisheries Conference and Research Fair-2006 at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council at Farmgate in the city.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman inaugurated the conference attended by representatives from different organisations fisheries departments of universities and development agencies.

"Although we do not have adequate research in the fisheries sector, the production of fish in our country in the last two decades is higher than that of the two neighbouring countries," said the minister at the inaugural session of the conference.

Prof Dr M Asaduzzaman, chairman of University Grants Commission, said the fisheries sector provides over 60 per cent of protein nutrition as Bangladesh is blessed with a vast aquatic resources and offers suitable climatic condition for growing fish.

"The total fish production in the country is 2.10 million metric tons and marine fisheries accounts for around 21.66 per cent of the total," said Dr Gias Khan, deputy director general of Department of Fisheries, in his keynote paper on 'Coastal & Marine Fisheries of Bangladesh Status and Potentials'.

He also said that 92.7 percent of marine catches are landed by artisanal fishers who employ smaller and less efficient fishing boats.

Around 22,500 non-mechanised and 21,400 machanised fishing boats are engaged in catching marine fishes, he added.

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum President Dr Abdul Wahab, General Secretary Dr Khabir Ahmed and Coordinator Dr Akhteruzzaman also spoke at the inaugural session.