Otter Fishing in Bangladesh

Otter fishing in Bangladesh is an ancient tradition dating back more than 200 years, primarily practiced in the Narail and Khulna districts near the Sundarbans mangroves. This unique practice relies on perfect coordination between the fishermen of the Malo Jele community and domesticated otters.

The role of otters is not to catch fish directly for their owners, but rather to act as herders. They swim and dive around a net, herding fish, shrimp, and crabs toward it. This long-running practice is often called bhodor diye mach dhora.
The fishing crew of each boat is usually a small group made up of trained adult otters and a young apprentice otter that imitates the adults.
Once the net is hauled in, the otters receive a portion of the catch as a reward for their work.
This activity is typically done at night, between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, when fish are most active in the rivers.

This Tradition is now close to disappearing. Declining fish stocks, degraded waterways, and poor income are driving the change. A 2024 field study found only 39 working otters owned by 15 fishing families across two districts, with captive otter numbers down 77% over the preceding decade.