At least 57 varieties of sweet water fishes in southern region are now on the verge of extinction. Barisal divisional fisheries office sources said the varieties were disappearing every day as open sources of sweet water like rivers, canals, ponds and enclosures are being silted every day which become threat for the extinction. A total of 4.5 lakh hectares of river, 2.84 hectares of river estuaries, 20,000 hectares of beels, 1.45 lakh hectares of polder and enclosures in Barisal division to produce 1.37 lakh tonnes of sweet water fishes where the regional demands is 1.57 lakh tonnes. More than 260 varieties of sweet water fishes were available in Barisal division which now decreasing every day while 57 varieties of regional sweet water fishes have almost disappeared. The varieties are Nandina, Ghora, Swarna Puti, Moha Shoul, Rita, Kajli, Ghaura, Bacha, Shilong, Pangas, Bagha Aier, Chenua, Gila Shoul, Foli, Bao Bain, Kash Khoira, Tat Kini, Golsha, Bash Pata, Gang Magur, Kucha, Nama Chanda, Lal Chanda, Bish Tara, Veda, Raga, Tara Bain and Shal Bain, Chitol, Joya, Khoksa, Sefatia, Kala Bata, Kali Boush, Ghonia, Dhela, Boal, Darkina, Beti, Rani, Aier, Tengra, Pabda, Ek Thotha, Kota, Kumirer Khil, Napit Koi, Neftani, Gojar, Boga, Ram Sos, Chaumma Chingri, Taki, Khoilsa, Molanti, Deshi Koi and Magur. Bankim Chandra Biswas, Barisal divisional fisheries officer, said production of these varieties of fish has decreased to 59.68 percent in last five years, adding that they had preserved photo description of 86 local varieties of sweet water fishes of the region. He feared if the falling trend continued the production of sweet water fishes in the open water sources would be almost zero percent within the next 10 years. He said they had placed different proposals and suggestions to the higher authorities to save the disappearing fishes and also to increase production in the last five years. The suggestions and proposals are excavation, dredging, preservation of sweet water sources, creating fish-sanctuaries, cultivation of local varieties, creating awareness and encouraging fish farmers, controlling use of chemical fertiliser, pesticide, banning catching of all varieties of fishes during egg laying season. However, steps on this regard yet to be taken for bureaucratic complexity and fund crisis, said one of the officials of Barisal divisional fisheries office.