Malé: India has taken over the chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) from Bangladesh during the 13th Governing Council Meeting held today in the Maldives, with senior officials from Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh in attendance.
The event was part of a high-level conference titled ‘Policy Guidance for Mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries.’ The conference, organized by the Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources of the Maldives in partnership with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), successfully took place from February 20 to 22, 2025, at Lankanfinolhu, Maldives.
The Indian delegation, headed by Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries for the Government of India, took on the role of Chair during the event. In his address, the Secretary emphasized India’s dedication to not only maintaining but also enhancing the accomplishments of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) as leadership transitions from Bangladesh to India. He expressed a strong commitment from the Department of Fisheries to pursue greater success for BOBP-IGO actively and promised to provide clear and effective guidance for future initiatives aimed at advancing the fisheries sector in all member countries.
Dr Likhi emphasised the significance of regional collaboration and highlighted the pivotal role that India and other nations play in promoting the interests of developing countries. He pointed out that enhancing regional cooperation should focus on several key areas, such as managing marine resources, implementing training and capacity-building initiatives, conducting research and advocating for effective policies, tackling Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and addressing various regional challenges.
With a hopeful outlook on continued support from organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr Likhi called on all member nations to strengthen mutual support through the sharing of knowledge, technology, experiences, data, and best practices. These collaborative efforts are anticipated to bolster the region’s blue economy, align economic growth with marine ecosystem protection, and contribute to poverty alleviation. During the meeting, he also underscored India’s developmental policies designed to enhance the welfare of small-scale fisheries and the sustainability initiatives being rolled out through various schemes and programmes.
The Department of Fisheries, operating under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, stated it was committed to guiding member nations with utmost effectiveness and efficiency through collaborative initiatives. “Additionally, there is a strong focus on driving substantial advancements in developing Small-scale fisheries (SSF) throughout the region,” it added.
– global bihari bureau
