Imagine a Bay teeming with rich flora and fauna where fisheries flourish for eternity and where sustainability is ensured through collective action!
The Bay of Bengal, ecologists and oceanographers would say, is a large contiguous body of waters with high primary productivity, and one of the 66 Large Marine Ecosystems of the world. The marine flora and fauna of the Bay, whether available locally or distributed along the ecosystem, are part of the larger ecosystem. The word that encapsulates the nature of the Bay is “shared” – a shared system for the Bay of Bengal rim countries and a shared system between the immediate users and the rest of the world. However, the Bay of Bengal we see is demarcated and divided, each area having its distinct socio-economic and governance elements. The resultant outcome is like that of hemi hyperplasia, with different parts of the Ba
y differently developed.
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)
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The journey towards implementing the LME approach in the Bay of Bengal is complex, marked by both promising opportunities and formidable challenges. Success hinges on the region’s ability to navigate these challenges, fostering institutional resilience and adaptability.
As the Bay embraces this sustainable path, the potential for a balanced ecosystem, where fisheries and communities thrive together becomes increasingly tangible. It is a vision for the future that demands commitment, collaboration, and innovation, setting a precedent for sustainable fisheries management, globally