Regional research network launched to strengthen climate-resilient fisheries in Bay of Bengal countries

Kochi: In a significant regional initiative to address climate threats, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives have joined hands with oceanographers and marine scientists to launch the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries (BOB-NOR) to strengthen the integration of oceanographic information into fisheries research and management.

The initiative aims to link oceanographic observations, climate information and fisheries data into research and management, and improve understanding of changing fish populations in the region.

The network was launched during an international meeting held at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), on the sideline of the international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing. The meeting brought together representatives from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives, along with leading oceanographers and marine scientists from several countries, including the USA, Brazil, Chile, Portugal, the UK and Greece.

The network will bring together ocean researchers, fisheries scientists and experts from participating countries to integrate satellite observations, oceanographic surveys, climate indicators and fisheries data. It will examine how changes in sea temperature, monsoon patterns, salinity, ocean productivity and currents affect fish distribution, migration, recruitment and abundance, promoting predictive, climate-informed approaches to fisheries management beyond conventional catch-based assessments.

The initiative is coordinated by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO). Unveiling the initiative, BOBP-IGO Director Dr. P. Krishnan said, “BOB-NOR will bridge the gap between oceanographic research and fisheries management by bringing together researchers and experts from the Bay of Bengal countries.”

The event was hosted by Union Fisheries Department and supported by GEO Blue Planet and Trevor Platt Science Foundation. Union Fisheries Joint Secretary Dr Surabhi Rai in her message said this initiative in the BOB region is a model for evidence-based fisheries management to the rest of the world.

Dr. B. Meenakumari, Former Deputy Director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) DG was the chief guest at the launch event. Emphasising the importance of science-based fisheries management in a changing ocean environment, she said, “Data-driven management is essential in the face of changing ocean conditions. Reliable and timely advisories, supported by key ocean parameters such as sea surface temperature, are crucial for helping fishers make informed decisions.”

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