UNB, Dhaka :US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat on Wednesday said her government has been working to eradicate extreme poverty and promote democratic, resilient communities since Bangladesh’s independence.”….we remain committed, in a variety of ways, to addressing sustainable co-management of natural resources, which now includes the coastal river ecosystem,” she said.The US Ambassador was addressing a function marking the formal launching of the Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH) project. This five-year $15 million initiative is funded by the US Agency for International Development and is implemented in partnership with WorldFish and the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries.ECOFISH aims to improve the resilience of the Meghna River ecosystem and communities reliant on coastal fisheries. ECOFISH will improve fisheries science for decision making, strengthen fisheries adaptive co-management, and enhance the resilience of communities that depend upon hilsa fish for their livelihoods.Globally, three billion people rely on coastal and marine fisheries for protein.However, oceans face many challenges that threaten the sustainability of marine fisheries, including overfishing, pollution and ocean acidification. Referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry, Bernicat said Kerry convened the ‘Our Oceans Conference in June 2014’ and, earlier this month, attended the ‘Our Oceans 2015 Conference’ in Chile.She said, protecting rivers, oceans and wetland areas are not only important for conserving biodiversity, it provides people with a critically important source of income and nutrition. “This is true in Bangladesh and it is true throughout the world.”She said, ECOFISH will build on the success of the government of Bangladesh’s Hilsa Fish Conservation Program-which focuses on protecting female and juvenile hilsa fish and compensating fishers during periods when hilsa fishing is banned.ECOFISH will advise local communities on how to manage designated fish sanctuaries and marine protected areas collaboratively with government. Bernicat hoped that ECOFISH will help to establish of a Hilsha Conservation Fund that could tap into market-based payments for ecosystem services and ensure the equitable and transparent transfer of these funds toward fisheries management and community resilience interventions long beyond the project’s lifespan.”This is a very ambitious agenda. But looking around this this room of esteemed government officials, scientists and leaders of civil society, I’m confident that ECOFISH will result in a number of successful outcomes,” she added.The US Ambassador said, the national fish of Bangladesh is an important source of nutrition, provides jobs to half a million artisanal fishers, and supports an additional two million jobs in its value chain. In fact, its economic value across Bangladesh, Burma and India is estimated at $2 billion, she added.Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Muhammed Sayedul Hoque spoke on the occasion as the chief guest. Director General for the Department of Fisheries Syed Arif Azad, Dr Patrick Dugan and Dr Craig were also present.
