Livelihood status of fish retailers in the fish market at Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, Bangladesh
Md. Jahangir Alam 1, Tasfia Khatun Beauty 2, Nabila Nusrat 3, Anjumanara Ava 4 and Maruf Hasan 5*
1 Department of Fisheries Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh
2 Department of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh
3 Department of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
4 Department of Fisheries Technology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh
5 Department of Fisheries Technology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
✉ *Corresponding author: [email protected].
Research article published online: 30 November 2025.
1 Department of Fisheries Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh
2 Department of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh
3 Department of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
4 Department of Fisheries Technology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh
5 Department of Fisheries Technology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
✉ *Corresponding author: [email protected].
Research article published online: 30 November 2025.
https://doi.org/10.18801/jbar.360126.336
Abstract
A study was conducted in the Shahjadpur Fish Market, Sirajganj, to evaluate the livelihood conditions of fish dealers. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from 30 randomly chosen fish retailers. The study revealed that most common age group for retailers was 31 to 40 years old (40%) and the least common was over 50 years old (10%). The primary level comprised 43.33% who were the greatest number of fish retailers. Around 13% of the retailers were Hindu, while 87% percent were Muslim. 53.33% of fish retailers belong to large families with 5 to 6 people. Besides retailing fish their trading at 53%, business at 20%, agricultural at 6.67%, fishing at 10%, day labour at 3.33% and fish farming at 6.67%. The study showed that the experience of this occupation was the longest of 4-6 years (36.67%) and the lowest was at 6.67%. It was found that fish retailers selling fish 15-20 kg/day (43.33%) was the highest number and above 30 kg/day was the lowest number. The majority had a tin-shed house, which comprised 46.7%, while only 10% had a building house. It was shown that fish retailers had a fairly good level of sanitary conditions. Furthermore, it was reported that 46% of fish retailers got medical care from the upazila health centre, 43% from the village doctor and 10% from MBBS, respectively. 26.67% fish retailers had refrigerators, where the majority (73.33%) was lack of it. About 90% of the fish retailers had electricity facilities, while 77 % had colour television. Most respondents had a yearly income of more than BDT 70,000-1,00,000 (33%). More institutional, organizational and technical assistance is needed to help them improve their socioeconomic situation and sustainable livelihood status.
Keywords: Livelihood, Fish retailer, Sustainable living, Fish market, Experience
A study was conducted in the Shahjadpur Fish Market, Sirajganj, to evaluate the livelihood conditions of fish dealers. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from 30 randomly chosen fish retailers. The study revealed that most common age group for retailers was 31 to 40 years old (40%) and the least common was over 50 years old (10%). The primary level comprised 43.33% who were the greatest number of fish retailers. Around 13% of the retailers were Hindu, while 87% percent were Muslim. 53.33% of fish retailers belong to large families with 5 to 6 people. Besides retailing fish their trading at 53%, business at 20%, agricultural at 6.67%, fishing at 10%, day labour at 3.33% and fish farming at 6.67%. The study showed that the experience of this occupation was the longest of 4-6 years (36.67%) and the lowest was at 6.67%. It was found that fish retailers selling fish 15-20 kg/day (43.33%) was the highest number and above 30 kg/day was the lowest number. The majority had a tin-shed house, which comprised 46.7%, while only 10% had a building house. It was shown that fish retailers had a fairly good level of sanitary conditions. Furthermore, it was reported that 46% of fish retailers got medical care from the upazila health centre, 43% from the village doctor and 10% from MBBS, respectively. 26.67% fish retailers had refrigerators, where the majority (73.33%) was lack of it. About 90% of the fish retailers had electricity facilities, while 77 % had colour television. Most respondents had a yearly income of more than BDT 70,000-1,00,000 (33%). More institutional, organizational and technical assistance is needed to help them improve their socioeconomic situation and sustainable livelihood status.
Keywords: Livelihood, Fish retailer, Sustainable living, Fish market, Experience
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Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research EISSN 2312-7945.