AQUATIC HEALTH INDEX OF COASTAL AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES AT SOUTH-EASTERN COAST OF BANGLADESH
Prabal Barua, Syed Hafizur Rahman
Abstract
Coastal aquaculture is the most productive export earning sectors of Bangladesh. South-Eastern coast of Bangladesh is the most productive region of coastal aquauculture and millions of people depend on this sectors for livelihood. The present paper is an attempt to evaluate the economically viable shrimp culture zone through enumeration of Aquatic Health Index in and around south-east coast of Bangladesh. In the present study, 10 important sites for coastal aquaculture activity area selected for the study and the aquatic health index value of these stations varied as per the order Stn. 4 >Stn.6 > Stn. 2> Stn. 1> Stn. 5> Stn. 3 > Stn. 7> Stn. 10> Stn. 8> Stn. 9. The lower value of the index reflects deteriorated condition of the water due to excessive industrial, shipbreaking activities and domestic run-off.