BOBP is a Regional Fisheries Advisory Body (RFAB), which serves as the think tank for the countries bordering the Bay of Bengal region on transboundary and contemporary national issues of the member countries concerning fisheries management, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, livelihood and occupational safety, and pollution management. The IGO assistsits member-countries in achieving the global targets for fisheries management, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable development, through research-based policy advocacy, need-based capacity development, and extensive community engagement programmes.

We, at BOBP, are committed to accelerating the transformation of the fisheries sector of this region towards real-time, evidence-driven, and ecosystem-based management from the current data constrained approaches, by leveraging our global knowledge networks and in active partnership with the national governments of the member countries and their constituent research and academic institutions.

The artisanal fisheries and aquaculture sector define the fisheries in the Bay – which is inarguably the home of the largest population of artisanal fishers. In this International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), we rededicate our commitment to the espoused cause under the theme of the International Year.

The 40+ years of BOBP legacy is a testimony to the collaborative action in the region towards sustainable fisheries management and we hope to further build upon that for enhanced cooperation and developmental partnership for a better future of a blue Bay.

Dr P Krishnan

Director

Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)