It has been working on pond re-excavation and fish cultivation with the support of WFP/DOF in all the project areas from 1987. Command Area Development through small scale fisheries program with the support of ADB/DOF/ WAPDA has been implemented in Faridpur, Barisal, Barguna, Bhola and Chandpur districts since 1999 and covered 45,000 beneficiaries. So far it has cultivated 1234 ponds, which will be app. 18,100 hectors. VOSD started fisheries activities from 1987 in all working areas. There are lot of ponds and water bodies in the areas. Most of the People live on fishing from the Sea, rivers and ponds. At present due to environmental degradation, the fish resources and most of the ponds and water bodies are dereliction. Which has created serious unemployment situation in the areas. Considering the situation VOSD has taken different steps to re-excavate the derelicts ponds and water bodies for intensive HYV (High Yielding Variety) fish’s cultivation and VOSD emphasizes to develop the fish resources in the operational areas to create employment and income earring opportunities for fishermen society and also to minimize the protein & Nutrition deficiency in the area. It also helps local resources utilization. The fishermen groups are cultivation fishes in the excavated and cultivated fishes. VOSD has been implementing Fish culture Program, small scale fisheries development program Integrated Duck-cum- pond Fish Farming, cage Fish Culture, supported by DOF/WFP/ADB, Swiss Contract, AWF-UK. Fish culture in 3420 hector water body & Involve 22415 Marginal poor Fish Farmer. Apart from these, VOSD has been implementing Gher base shrimp cultivation is an important item of fisheries development programs. VOSD has been encouraging the organized beneficiaries for gher based shrimp cultivation for better profits, because, it gives more profit than other fisheries activities. Already 467 fish farmers have involved with shrimp cultivation in Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola and Barisal districts and also in Gopalgonj District.
