Bangladesh establishes first 'Live Gene Bank' to save endangered fish species | News

Dhaka, September 16, 2025 (BSS) - To conserve aquatic biodiversity, the government has established the country's first-ever 'Live Gene Bank' to protect 64 critically endangered native fish species. The facility, located at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) in Mymensingh, aims to safeguard the genetic resources of indigenous fish varieties, many of which are on the brink of extinction due to environmental degradation and habitat loss. The institute has successfully recovered 40 endangered species, including 29 in the past decade alone, according to Dr. Anuradha Bhadra, Director General of BFRI. She emphasized that this initiative aligns with the government's broader objective of achieving self-sufficiency in fish production while preserving local biodiversity. The gene bank is expected to play a vital...