Bangladesh, Oct. 13 -- More than 300 poor families in Sharsha upazila of Jashore are struggling to make ends meet by collecting and selling snails from natural water bodies, while indiscriminate harvesting is raising concerns over aquatic biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

With limited employment opportunities in rural areas, men, women and even children are engaging in snail collection, earning just Tk 7 per kilogram. Despite spending hours collecting snails, their earnings are barely enough to cover their families' daily expenses amid rising commodity prices.

A visit to the area found people collecting snails from morning until noon in canals, wetlands and other water bodies across several unions, including Dihi, Lakshman...