This paper reports on the conduct and findings of fishing experiments during six seasons (1980-86) to improve the economics of set bagnets (behundi jal) in Bangladesh. The main purposes were to reduce the costs by using cheaper materials and to increase productivity by employing nets of larger size and new designs.

The set bagnet is a traditional fishing gear widely used in the coastal area of Bangladesh. It is the second most important fishing gear after gillnets. In order to better estimate its importance, BOBP also conducted a pilot survey, the outcome of which has been published in a separate paper (BOBP/WP/34).

The work was carried out in cooperation with the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), Chittagong. The principal national officer engaged in the work was Mr. M.A. Sabur, Fisheries Inspector, who participated on a full-time basis in the trials during the last four years.

The initial experiments (1980-81) were conducted in cooperation with the Kalidaha Fishing Project of CARITAS, a social service agency of Juldia near Chittagong, and with private fishermen at Dubla Char off the Sunderbans. From the 1981/82 season the trials were concentrated in Sonadia Island, just north of Cox’s Bazaar. They were conducted in cooperation with private fishermen.

Overall planning and supervision of the work was provided by BOBP’s Fishing Technologist, Mr. G. Pajot, during 1980-82 and 1984-86 and by Mr. T. Gestsson, consultant, during 1982-84 The author participated part-time in the 1983/84 and 1984/85 trials as BOBP Associate Expert in Fishing Technology and in the 1985/86 trials as full-time consultant. Dr. B.T. Antony Raja, Fishery Biologist and BOBP consultant, assisted in interpreting data collected during the last season (1985/86) and in preparing this report.