The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project (BOBLME), which originated from the same root as the BOBP-IGO, the erstwhile Bay of Bengal Programme of the FAO (1979-2000), precisely aims to address this problem of differential development in the Bay. The project is a logical extension of the objectives of the BOBP-IGO that brings in the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach aimed at balancing conservation and human uses. From a governance perspective, the project involves both the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment in the implementation process, transcending the dichotomy between Regional Fisheries Bodies (with the Ministry of Fisheries as the main driver) and Regional Seas Organisations (where the Ministry of Environment is the main driver).

The first phase of the project was implemented during 2009-15 in eight countries surrounding the Bay, namely, Bangladesh, India (Focus: East Coast, A&N Island groups), Indonesia (Focus: stretch in Bay of Bengal), Malaysia (Focus: stretch in Bay of Bengal), Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Possibly, the most significant outcome of phase 1 of the project is the popularization of the LME concept and underlining the need for collective action in securing the stream of benefits from the Bay. A transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) was also carried out to identify shared problems in the region. Based on it, a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for recovery and sustainable use of the Bay was developed.

The implementation of the second phase of the BOBLME project started in 2023 and will go on till 2028. It draws its strength from the SAP and envisions a long-term regional mechanism to be in place to ensure the sustainability of the Bay before the end of the project cycle in 2028. Unlike the first phase, where BOBP-IGO played a supportive role, in the current phase, the Organisation has taken the onus of executing the project for the benefit of its member countries. There are three critical areas where BOBP-IGO will intervene: [1] establishing an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) in the region; [2] curbing Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and [3] pollution control. The other components of the project are [4] establishing marine-managed areas and [5] enhancing livelihood resilience, which will be implemented by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In addition, the Organisation will also contribute to the development of the regional coordination mechanism and project communication. In the case of Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) will reprise the role that BOBP is playing in South Asia. IUCN is also responsible for regional coordination, while FAO will oversee the overall implementation of the project. The second phase of the BOBLME is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) with cofinance from the project countries and the executing agencies (BOBP, SEAFDEC & IUCN)

Along the way to the launch of the BOBLME-2, many may have had apprehensions about the possibility of the project making any actual impact, particularly given the fact that none of the proposed activities is new to the region. The BOBP-IGO, from its experience in promoting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) since 1995, which has seen some definite progress only in the recent past, recognises that bringing change at this scale takes time.

The confidence in making a positive change during the BOBLME-II emanates from different developments and emerging opportunities. The first and foremost is the nature of governance of the Bay of Bengal. It is one of those water bodies where the issues of national maritime zones (EEZs) are fairly well-settled. This gives clear guidance on what is there and for whom. Secondly, an increasing emphasis is on an ocean-based economy and blue economy. While the blue economy is still an abstract idea, one of its cardinals is that growth can be optimised subject to a healthy ecosystem. This could be the possible way to escape the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’, assuming that the rim countries of the Bay accept this maxim.

In addition, changes in the fisheries governance space in the region during the last few years offer great promise. To start with, the Bay of Bengal rim countries are parties to Life Below Water (SDG-14) and have demonstrated their commitment to the SDG through their support of WTO negotiations and later through their pronounced role in the finalization of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. On the environmental side, the countries have subscribed to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), re-establishing their commitment to conserve biodiversity in land and water.

Despite its ecological and economic importance, the Bay of Bengal faces significant challenges. Climate change, rising river basins, and inadequate management practices have led to overexploitation and the resultant collapse of fish stocks. Alarmingly, top-of-the-food-chain species have faced dramatic declines, with reports indicating ‘near extinction’ of key species like tiger prawn and Indian salmon. Overfishing, particularly by large vessels, exacerbates the problem, as do habitat degradation and the migratory nature of many fish stocks, which frequently move between the EEZs of different countries.

In fact, in the light of the growing evidence on stock status, plastic pollution, changing climate and the emergence of dead zones in the Bay, the situation can be considered dire and scary, demanding urgent attention. To effectively address the myriad challenges faced by the Bay of Bengal’s marine ecosystem, the EAFM emerges as a pivotal strategy. This approach aligns seamlessly with the need for concerted and cooperative efforts from all bordering nations to safeguard this vital marine habitat for current as well as future generations.

EAFM is a comprehensive way of managing fisheries that takes into account the entire ecosystem in which fish live rather than focusing solely on individual fish species. This approach is akin to managing a garden with the whole ecosystem in mind rather than just focusing on individual plants.

“Global studies show (Sunken Billion Revisited), the rent loss from fisheries is the highest in Asia. An inadequate fisheries management regime is the primary factor behind this loss. The BOBLME project does not aim at fisheries reform, per se. Still, its trust is in progressive nudging for the gradual alignment of the current exploitation locus to an ideal exploitation locus. ”