A subregional grouping that must get back on course 

News: A summit level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is going to be organized in Sri Lanka. 

It is an opportunity to take concrete steps to address critical challenges confronting the region.

About Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue (BOBMD) 

It was organised recently by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Pathfinder Foundation.

It brought together government officials, maritime experts, and representatives of prominent think tanks from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia to step up efforts in areas such as environmental protection; curtailing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, etc. 

What is the potential for the blue economy of the Bay of Bengal? 

The Bay of Bengal is an important source of natural resources. It includes rich marine ecosystems like fragile estuaries, mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mass nesting sites of sea turtles.

It also serves a coastal population of approximately 185 million people. For example, the fishermen population thrives on fish catch etc 

There are many opportunities to develop maritime trade, shipping, aquaculture and tourism 

What are the pressing challenges in BOB?  

The BOB is facing plastic pollution; destruction of natural protection against floods such as mangroves; sea erosion; industrialization and population pressure in the coastal areas, huge quantities of untreated waste flow, annual loss of mangrove areas; and emergence of a dead zone; etc. 

Frequent cyclonic storms and an increase in the sea level. 

There are anthropogenic security threats like, terrorism, and piracy.

Another conflict between countries is due to fishermen crossing into the territorial waters of neighbouring countries is an important one. For example, India and Sri Lanka fishermen dispute. 

At present, there is limited cooperation between countries of the region in marine research. Like interactions of the premier institutions and excellent scientists within the region. 

Way Forward 

There is a need for regional coordinated and concerted action for tapping the potentials of BOB and resolving the maritime issues of a transboundary nature in the BOB region.  

Marine environmental protection should be a priority. Protected areas can be established. The frameworks can be developed to prevent and manage water pollution.  

The modern technology and improved fishing practices can be used to strengthen fisheries management, and promote sustainable fishing methods,  

There is also a need for greater scientific research on climate change and its impact in general and on fisheries in particular. 

A Participatory approach must be evolved for data collection, and real-time stock assessment for fish stock. In this context, a regional open fisheries data alliance may be created.  

The BIMSTEC summit should support both BOBP and FAO’s BOBLME.

– The Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) is an inter-governmental organisation (based in Chennai), doing work to promote sustainable fishing.

– The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and others.  

There should be increased monitoring, control and surveillance of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. For this, an international vessel tracking system can be established. A regional fishing vessel registry system, automatic identification system (AIS) trackers for vessels; improved joint regional patrols, etc. be established. 

Source: The post is based on an article “A subregional grouping that must get back on course” published in The Hindu on 29th March 22.