INPUT USE EFFICIENCY AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION OF SMALL SCALE MARINE FISHING IN BANGLADESH

The study was carried out to examine the input use efficiency of setbag net and longline marine fishing technologies and also to determine the sharing system and income distribution between the boat owners and fishermen. Two hundred fishing firms were randomly selected as 100 from setbag nets and 100 from longline fishing firms. Cobb-Douglas production function technique was employed to examine the input use efficiency. In the case of setbag net, all the explanatory variables were statistically significant and positive in increasing the revenue except the food cost which had a negative impact on fishing. In longline fishing, number of hooks, fuel and lubricant cost, and crew cost had negative impact on marine fishing while capacity of boat, ice and salt cost, experience of fishermen were positive to explain the variation in marine fish revenue. Small scale m2i-ine fishing generated large income for fishermen but the income distribution among the concerned fishermen appeared to be inequitable and exploitative. The fishermen have currently been facing some serious problems in fishing activities. Further steps such as rational sharing system favourable for crews, regulations on fishing to restore fish stock to maintain the level of fish prices, life insurance for fishermen and stopping the piracy of fishes and nets by law enforcing agencies and improvement of fishing techniques may be needed for sustainable fisheries policies in Bangladesh