In the socio-economic context of the territory that constitutes Bangladesh, fisheries has a long standing importance as the source of animal protein for its ever increasing population. About 12 million people of Bangladesh is directly or indirectly engaged in fisheries earning their livelihood.

Despite the fact that there are more than 10,000 recorded water bodies in the country, including beels, haors, baors and rivers etc., these are neither properly maintained nor the approvable fishing practices are being followed. The unscrupulous and destructive catching and environmental degradation have been resulting in ever decreasing fish production and catches and so is the income of the community engaged in fishing and fish trading.

To stabilize and improve the situation through training on improved cultivation practices, technical backstopping services and credit support, SSS has introduced Fisheries Extension Programme to promote community based fisheries resources management and fish cultivation both in group or on individual basis.

Presently, with financial assistance from DANIDA and DFID, SSS has been operating this programme in 518 villages of 107 Unions under18 Upazilas of Tangail, Mymensing, Kishoregonj, Narsingdi, Munshigonj and Netrakona districts.

The beneficiaries of this programme are pond/close water bodies fish cultivators, organized fisheries firms, integrated fish-rice cultivators, hatcheries, fish traders and the fishermen communities in general.