The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) is one of the world’s most significant LMEs with an area of about 2.6 million square kilometers - 66% of which lies within the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The Bay of Bengal harbours rich biodiversity and critical habitats with natural resources holding significant social and economic value for surrounding countries. Fisheries and aquaculture play pivotal roles in ensuring food security, employment, and trade within the region.
However, small-scale farmers are among the poorest and most vulnerable in the world. This is further compounded by the overexploitation of marine living resources as well as the increasing impacts of climate change which is being felt across all eight countries. More than 20% of mangroves have been lost since the 1980s due to expanding agriculture and coastal development, unregulated fishing practices, and pollution that is disrupting water quality.
Without urgent action, the marine environment will continue to deteriorate. This threatens the biodiversity and coastal ecosystems as well as the livelihoods of fishing communities in all the countries, which in turn increases the risk of conflict among marine stakeholders for access to and use of resources.
BOBLME II, a five-year project (2023-2028) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - International Waters and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), is jointly implemented with FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBPIGO). The collaborative project aims to tackle urgent challenges and promote sustainability in seven countries – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
