Native fish species on verge of extinction in Patuakhali | Agriculture News

PATUAKHALI, Sept 18, 2025 (BSS) - Native fish species are at risk of disappearing from rivers, canals, and other waterbodies in the district due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Experts said farmers in Rangabali, Galachipa, and Bauphal upazilas use chemical fertilizers and pesticides indiscriminately to increase crop yields. During the monsoon, these toxic substances mix with rainwater and flow into rivers, canals, and ponds, severely affecting aquatic biodiversity. "The habitat and breeding grounds of fish are being destroyed, and their life cycles disrupted due to chemicals in croplands," specialists said. As a result, various local fish species, including putti, koi, shing, magur, taki, chingri, baim, beda, gajar, bele, and others, are now disappearing. Rivers surround...