Saleh Noman
Bangladesh has published the first marine fisheries survey report of Bay of Bengal which would reveal approximated marine fish resources. Such publication comes after ensuring the successful acquisition of the boundary of Bay of Bengal through arbitration with two neighbors - India and Myanmar at the international maritime court.
The reports of the survey will be handover to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the eve of observing of the National Fisheries Week to be held on July 17-23.
According to the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), the three-year survey was conducted using two specially equipped ships. The survey began in 2017 and ended in March this year.
The survey, titled, ‘Marine Fisheries Capacity Building Project’ was, conducted using RV Meen Shandhani, a sophisticated research vessel that was added in the country’s marine fisheries sector in 2016. Another ship, RV Fridtjof Nansen, a latest Norwegian ship operating under the supervision of the Food and Agriculture FAO of The United Nations, carried out ecosystems and aquatic survey from August 3 to 17 2018.
Abul Hasnat, Director of MFD told Bangladesh Post, “The reports of surveys were submitted to Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock recently. After the approval of the Prime Minister, some details of the survey reports would be made public.” “For the first time, detail surveys have completed successfully in our sea territory within a short time after achieving sovereignty over the maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal,” he added.
He also said, “RV Meen Shandhani research team prepared `Marine Fisheries Survey Reports and Stock Assessment’ by analyzing the information and data collected in 24 voyages at the Bay of Bengal.” MFD purchased the ship RV Meen Shandhani having advanced capabilities and technology, and cost more than Tk 65.50 crores. It's the first ever research survey vessel built for Bangladesh. FAO and the Malaysian government funded for the ship and also train human resources to operate the ship and its sophisticated machines.
The specially equipped Norwegian vessel, RV Fridtjof Nansen arrived in July 2018 in Chattogram to carry out an aquatic survey in the maritime boundary of Bangladesh. The ships have been collecting information and data within the 2100 meters depth in the sea. After completing its mission in Bangladesh the Norwegian ship returned.
Abdullah al-Mamun, a deputy cruise leader of the survey team of RV Fridtjof Nansen and Assistant Director of MFD said that the vessel surveyed fish resources stock in the upper level of the sea. It also performed surveys on the ecosystem, water quality and presence of polluting elements like plastics. “On behalf of Bangladesh, demand has been placed to the United Nations so that the ship is sent again in 2021 to conduct surveys in our territory in the Bay of Bengal,” the official added.
After the setting up of the sea boundary in 2015, the sea area of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal was found to be around 143,000 sq km. The marine fisheries are one of the main components of the blue economy. The United Nations includes Bangladesh as a pilot country of the blue economy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal, SDG.
Authorities are trying to ensure sustainable production from open water through habitat restoration, the establishment of sanctuaries, impose a banning period of fishing, eliminating destructive fishing gears and other conservation measures. “The surveys which were completed recently will help to get a realistic fisheries management of Bay of Bengal,” said Professor Sayedur Rahman Chowdhury who is a teacher of the Science Institute of Chattogram University.
He also said, “Knowing about the sea is a great topic and on that note, I believe regular research should be done here.” In the Bay of Bengal, 3,87,8324 tons of fish were caught in 2016, while in 2001 it was 1890459 tons. Although the amount of catching of fish increase twice in 16 years. More than six lakhs fishermen are depending on fishing in the Bay.