Dr Tapan Kumar Dey :
The Government of Bangladesh has declared the country’s first Marine Protected Area, Swatch of No Ground, to safeguard whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other oceanic species under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012.
The creation of the Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area (SoNG-MPA) occurs as the world’s conservation community prepares to meet at the World Parks Congress, a global event held every 10 years for the purpose of promoting safeguarding the earth’s most valuable natural places and formulating solutions to conservation challenges.
The World Parks Congress will take place in Sydney, Australia, from November 12 to 19.
The SoNG-MPA was signed into law by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on October 27, 2014. “This is a momentous occasion for Bangladesh and we are proud to protect the rich diversity of marine species inhabiting our waters,” said Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Government of Bangladesh.
Rubaiyat Mansur of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project said, “The SoNG MPA supports an astonishing diversity of dolphins, porpoises and whales including species in need of immediate protection. Declaration of Bangladesh’s first Marine Protected Area shows our country’s commitment to saving its natural resources and wonders.”
Spanning some 672 square miles (1,738 square kilometres) in size with the depth of 900+ meters, the Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area includes deep waters at the head of the submarine canyon from which it gets its name as well as coastal waters offshore the world’s largest mangrove forest in the Sundarbans.
WCS’s Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project has worked along with the Government of Bangladesh since 2004 to ensure the long-term protection of the cetaceans in waters of Bangladesh through collaborative efforts with local communities. Pioneering work by WCS and our local partners in these waters found large numbers of Irrawaddy dolphins, finless porpoises, Pacific humpback dolphins, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, and what may be a resident population of Bryde’s whales.
Tapan Kumar Dey, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Circle, stated “Protection of threatened marine wildlife in Bangladesh especially cetaceans (a group comprising whales, dolphins, and porpoises) as well as sea turtles can serve as a global safety net to prevent species extinction. Measures taken to conserve cetaceans, sharks, and sea turtles will also benefit Bangladesh’s coastal fishing communities by improving livelihoods and food security. With this declaration, The Government of Bangladesh has proven its commitment in protection of natural resources within its territory and has created space for dialogue on trans-boundary issues with the neighbouring countries.”
The creation of the SoNGMPA-which borders the territorial waters of India-will promote discussions with Bangladesh’s neighbour on a potential transboundary protected area, which contains similar species richness facing the same threats such as entanglement in fishing gears and climate change.
“Marine protected areas that protect cetaceans and other marine life are extremely important steps in saving vital marine ecosystems that support hundreds of thousands of people,” said Dr Howard Rosenbaum, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Ocean Giants Programme.
“Safeguarding these species and natural resources will become even more important in the years to come, particularly due to the challenges of climate change.”
The Government of Bangladesh has declared the country’s first Marine Protected Area, Swatch of No Ground, to safeguard whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other oceanic species under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012.
The creation of the Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area (SoNG-MPA) occurs as the world’s conservation community prepares to meet at the World Parks Congress, a global event held every 10 years for the purpose of promoting safeguarding the earth’s most valuable natural places and formulating solutions to conservation challenges.
The World Parks Congress will take place in Sydney, Australia, from November 12 to 19.
The SoNG-MPA was signed into law by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on October 27, 2014. “This is a momentous occasion for Bangladesh and we are proud to protect the rich diversity of marine species inhabiting our waters,” said Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Government of Bangladesh.
Rubaiyat Mansur of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project said, “The SoNG MPA supports an astonishing diversity of dolphins, porpoises and whales including species in need of immediate protection. Declaration of Bangladesh’s first Marine Protected Area shows our country’s commitment to saving its natural resources and wonders.”
Spanning some 672 square miles (1,738 square kilometres) in size with the depth of 900+ meters, the Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area includes deep waters at the head of the submarine canyon from which it gets its name as well as coastal waters offshore the world’s largest mangrove forest in the Sundarbans.
WCS’s Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project has worked along with the Government of Bangladesh since 2004 to ensure the long-term protection of the cetaceans in waters of Bangladesh through collaborative efforts with local communities. Pioneering work by WCS and our local partners in these waters found large numbers of Irrawaddy dolphins, finless porpoises, Pacific humpback dolphins, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, and what may be a resident population of Bryde’s whales.
Tapan Kumar Dey, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Circle, stated “Protection of threatened marine wildlife in Bangladesh especially cetaceans (a group comprising whales, dolphins, and porpoises) as well as sea turtles can serve as a global safety net to prevent species extinction. Measures taken to conserve cetaceans, sharks, and sea turtles will also benefit Bangladesh’s coastal fishing communities by improving livelihoods and food security. With this declaration, The Government of Bangladesh has proven its commitment in protection of natural resources within its territory and has created space for dialogue on trans-boundary issues with the neighbouring countries.”
The creation of the SoNGMPA-which borders the territorial waters of India-will promote discussions with Bangladesh’s neighbour on a potential transboundary protected area, which contains similar species richness facing the same threats such as entanglement in fishing gears and climate change.
“Marine protected areas that protect cetaceans and other marine life are extremely important steps in saving vital marine ecosystems that support hundreds of thousands of people,” said Dr Howard Rosenbaum, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Ocean Giants Programme.
“Safeguarding these species and natural resources will become even more important in the years to come, particularly due to the challenges of climate change.”
(Dr Tapan Kumar Dey is Conservator of Forests Wildlife and Conservation Circle, Ban Bhaban,
Agargaon, Dhaka)
