Business Report :
The launching of Save Our Sea’s ‘Locally Led Marine Conservation for Blue Economy’ program and a ‘Discussion Meeting’ was held at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday and presided over by Muhammad Nurul Islam, Consul General of Japan in Chittagong.
The newly unveiled research program is designed to explore the historical trend and assess present scenario of coastal community’s preparedness for more access and control over their natural resources. Young researchers from different universities under supervision of related experts and practitioners will also examine various aspects of supply chain, market mechanisms and consumer behavior related to marine and coastal ecosystems.
The discussion Meeting was arranged in cooperation with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Organization for Social Orientation (OSO and Moderated by Sociologist Dr. Monzur-Ul-Amin Chowdhury.
Speakers at the meeting said, blue economic approach can conserve coastal and marine ecosystem and biodiversity, ensure local economic development if led by local communities. As a country which lacks capacity and infrastructure in mostly top-down approach of natural resource management, Bangladesh need to do more with the less. Legal and structural reform is necessary to make the way for leadership of local communities.
C.E.O. of Save Our Sea Mohammad Arju unveiled the research program. He said blue economic business models generate more social and environmental benefits with locally available resources. This approach prioritizes sustainable management of natural systems and local economic development simultaneously.
Environmental degradation of Saint Martin’s Island is a sad example of what happens when top-down management of natural resources alienate the local community’, said Md. Manzoorul Kibria, an associate professor of Zoology department at the University of Chittagong.
Director of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mahfujul Haq Shah stressed the importance of new policy and guideline for broader responsibilities of business to curb land based marine pollution and to protect marine ecosystem. He said, to sustain their own economic activities, the industrialists and businessmen need to adopt blue economic approach.
Mohammad Mahabubul Alam from Marine Fisheries Academy expressed his concern about mid-water trawlers operating in the shallow grounds, which are home to juvenile and undersized fishes. Mid-water trawl is designed to carry out in deep-sea fishing grounds to catch pelagic fishes instead. With 90-meter mouth opening nets they are actually carrying out ‘surface to bottom’ trawling and this mega-trawl practice is taking a toll on fisheries and marine biodiversity, he said. Alam stressed on the urgency of coordination between Marine Fisheries Department and Mercantile Marine Department for successful registration and monitoring regime of thousands of mechanized fishing vessels.
Mahbub Rana from Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association told the participants that their businesses are suffering from gradually decreasing size of the fish catch. Mahbub a Senior Vice President at the association of country’s seafood exporters expressed his dismay about the state of non-enforcement of laws regarding illegal method of fishing. He said, if net mesh size regulations goes unobserved, marketable fish stock will continue to decline.
Among others Environmental Expert Muhammad Edris Ali, Senior Awami Leauge leader Sunil Sarkar, Sociologist Dr. Obaidul Karim, Joint Secretary of BAPA Mihir Biswar, Poet Sarwar Kamal and Executive Director of OSO Masud Zakaria, addressed the meeting.
The launching of Save Our Sea’s ‘Locally Led Marine Conservation for Blue Economy’ program and a ‘Discussion Meeting’ was held at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday and presided over by Muhammad Nurul Islam, Consul General of Japan in Chittagong.
The newly unveiled research program is designed to explore the historical trend and assess present scenario of coastal community’s preparedness for more access and control over their natural resources. Young researchers from different universities under supervision of related experts and practitioners will also examine various aspects of supply chain, market mechanisms and consumer behavior related to marine and coastal ecosystems.
The discussion Meeting was arranged in cooperation with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Organization for Social Orientation (OSO and Moderated by Sociologist Dr. Monzur-Ul-Amin Chowdhury.
Speakers at the meeting said, blue economic approach can conserve coastal and marine ecosystem and biodiversity, ensure local economic development if led by local communities. As a country which lacks capacity and infrastructure in mostly top-down approach of natural resource management, Bangladesh need to do more with the less. Legal and structural reform is necessary to make the way for leadership of local communities.
C.E.O. of Save Our Sea Mohammad Arju unveiled the research program. He said blue economic business models generate more social and environmental benefits with locally available resources. This approach prioritizes sustainable management of natural systems and local economic development simultaneously.
Environmental degradation of Saint Martin’s Island is a sad example of what happens when top-down management of natural resources alienate the local community’, said Md. Manzoorul Kibria, an associate professor of Zoology department at the University of Chittagong.
Director of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mahfujul Haq Shah stressed the importance of new policy and guideline for broader responsibilities of business to curb land based marine pollution and to protect marine ecosystem. He said, to sustain their own economic activities, the industrialists and businessmen need to adopt blue economic approach.
Mohammad Mahabubul Alam from Marine Fisheries Academy expressed his concern about mid-water trawlers operating in the shallow grounds, which are home to juvenile and undersized fishes. Mid-water trawl is designed to carry out in deep-sea fishing grounds to catch pelagic fishes instead. With 90-meter mouth opening nets they are actually carrying out ‘surface to bottom’ trawling and this mega-trawl practice is taking a toll on fisheries and marine biodiversity, he said. Alam stressed on the urgency of coordination between Marine Fisheries Department and Mercantile Marine Department for successful registration and monitoring regime of thousands of mechanized fishing vessels.
Mahbub Rana from Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association told the participants that their businesses are suffering from gradually decreasing size of the fish catch. Mahbub a Senior Vice President at the association of country’s seafood exporters expressed his dismay about the state of non-enforcement of laws regarding illegal method of fishing. He said, if net mesh size regulations goes unobserved, marketable fish stock will continue to decline.
Among others Environmental Expert Muhammad Edris Ali, Senior Awami Leauge leader Sunil Sarkar, Sociologist Dr. Obaidul Karim, Joint Secretary of BAPA Mihir Biswar, Poet Sarwar Kamal and Executive Director of OSO Masud Zakaria, addressed the meeting.
