The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) phase of the BOBLME identified three priority transboundary concerns :

1. overexploitation of marine living resources,

2. degradation of critical habitats, and

3. pollution and water quality.

A BOBLME program framework was developed with BOBLME countries to agree on priority issues to address and these were included in this project: “Sustainable management of fisheries, marine living resources and their habitats in the Bay of Bengal region for the benefit of coastal states and communities”. The project will address the following barriers:

i. Institutional, legal and administrative barriers; with incomplete regional policy cycles and weak national-regional as well as science-policy interfaces, leading to poor governance;

ii. socio-economic barriers; by improving stakeholder awareness, capacity, gender equity and participation, and introducing valuation of climate change in planning and management to enhance the resilience of its fisheries, critical habitats, and people’s livelihoods. The project objective is to contribute to sustainable management of fisheries, marine living resources and their habitats in the Bay of Bengal region, to reduce environmental stress and improve environmental status for the benefit of coastal states and communities. This will be achieved through five interlinked Project components based on the SAP themes, and with an added component to strengthen the institutional arrangements for regional partnerships coordination and collaboration, ecosystem-based monitoring, and assessment.

Component 1: Sustainable Management of Fisheries

Component 2: Restoration and conservation of critical marine habitats and conservation of biodiversity

Component 3: Management of coastal and marine pollution to improve ecosystem health

Component 4: Improved livelihoods and enhanced resilience of the BOBLME

Component 5: Regional mechanism for planning, coordination and monitoring of the BOBLME

The project will be implemented by three (3) executing agencies namely: the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and IUCN also will perform as Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU). SEAFDEC will lead Southeast Asian activities under component 1, 3, and 5 which will be implemented from 2024 to 2028, except component 3 will be implemented from 2024 to 2026.

More information please visit website >>>