Biggest marine fisheries project nears completion on Bangladesh coast

The biggest ever marine fisheries project involving Tk 2457.53 crore in Bangladesh nears completion, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said on Sunday.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the fisheries ministry to explore the potential of the blue economy," he said during an interaction with senior managers of mainstream media on the domestically financed seven-year-long Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, set to end in 2025.

Rezaul said, in line with the premier's directive, his ministry developed a national marine fisheries management plan and, "we are striving to improve fish production and the livelihoods of fishermen".

 The minister outlined various steps taken under the "cent per cent self-financed project" with foreign lending which included initiatives like developing scientific and hygienic dry fish processing neighbourhoods or "shutki palli".

Officials familiar with the implementation of the project said the emphasis was given to exploring marine fisheries and even underwater vegetation like edible seaweeds in Bangladesh's extended maritime boundary as it now nearly equals to the country's landmass.

The fisheries department organised the event at a hotel in the capital, where the fisheries minister also said the department developed a smart vessel management system for ensuring good governance in marine fishing.

"We have introduced smart cards for fishermen. Besides, the shipping boats and vessels are coming into a database and surveillance system connected to Bangabandhu-1 Satellite," Karim said.

He said a cluster-based service was developed for shrimp farmers in Khulna and since July 2018 the project has been contributing to improving the livelihood of farmers across 16 districts.

Fisheries and livestock secretary Nahid Rashid, additional secretary Abdul Quaiyum, fisheries department director general Yeahia Mahmud, and project director Abdul Alim were, among others, present at the event.

Deputy Director of the project Manish Mandal made a keynote presentation on the latest developments in the marine fisheries sector in the country.

"All the fishing vessels are coming into the digital management system, while the exporters will tag quick response codes on the shrimp that will give information about the production and farmers," Mandal said.

He added, "The innovations will help the country brand itself abroad. We are also supporting research on canned Hilsa fish to popularise the product abroad."

/KN/