Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay

Author Topic: Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay  (Read 981 times)

Offline hassan

  • Faculty
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 501
    • View Profile
    • Google site
Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay
« on: February 26, 2020, 09:13:24 AM »
Discussants at the program pointed out that fishing vessels could now go maximum 60 kilometers into the sea and because of this fishing near the shore line was harming and disturbing the balance of sea fisheries


Bangladesh has a huge economic potential in the Bay of Bengal but failed to make the most of resources from the sea for lack of initiative and investment.

The observation came at a seminar titles “Blue economy: Future prospects of harnessing the opportunity for Bangladesh” at a hotel in the capital on Monday.

The Centre for Strategic and Development Studies (CSDS) organized it.

Discussants at the program pointed out that fishing vessels could now go maximum 60 kilometers into the sea and because of this fishing near the shore line was harming and disturbing the balance of sea fisheries.

On the other hand, they mentioned, valuable Tona fish in the deep sea remained out of reach while neighboring countries were fishing illegally in the sea areas of Bangladesh.

Kawser Ahmed, professor of the department of oceanography of the University of Dhaka said: “Tona fish live in 250-350 metres deep in the water and we have to go to 100-150 kilometres away from the shore to catch Tona."

Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam, secretary (maritime affairs unit) of the ministry of foreign affairs said: “We have 70,000 wooden fishing boats which can go up to 20-25 kilometres from the shore. We also have 240-250 steel body fishing trawlers which can go up to 40 kilometres and some can go to 60 kilometers maximum."

“Not a single fishing ship we have which can go into deep sea. We cannot catch Tona fish for lack of fishing facilities,” he said.

He urged private sector to invest in fishing ship.

Khurshed Alam presented the keynote in the seminar and said: “We can produce 15 lakh tons of salt but cannot export for being bellow standard. We do not even have technology to track a foreign ship into our sea areas. We took no initiative to collect minerals from the sand."

Asset harnessing

Major General (retd) Amsa Amin, chairman of CSDS, who moderated the seminar, said: “Estimated gross value added to our economy was 6.2 billion dollars in 2014-2015. Of it, tourism added 25%, transport 22%, marine capture fisheries and aquaculture 22%, oil and gas 19%, ship building and breaking 9% and mineral 3%."   

Sea is producing 3.3 million tons of fish for Bangladesh which provides 56% of animal protein intakes. Sea fisheries and aquaculture is contributing 4.6% of national GDP and supporting the livelihood of 13 million people. It also contributes 5.1% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Md. Arif Hassan
Assistant Professor
Department of Business Administration
Faculty of Business and Economics
Daffodil International University

Offline tanchi

  • Faculty
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 131
    • View Profile
Re: Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2020, 12:12:11 PM »
This topic is related to one of my courses, so it helps me a lot.
thanks
Khadiza Rahman Tanchi
Assistant Professor
Department of Business Administration
Daffodil International University

Offline Farhananoor

  • Faculty
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 240
    • View Profile
Re: Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2020, 06:03:31 PM »
Good Post.

Offline Shahnoor Rahman

  • Faculty
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 260
    • View Profile
Re: Blue economy: Huge untapped potential lies unused in Bay
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2020, 06:27:07 PM »
Thanks for Sharing.  :) :)

Shah-Noor Rahman
Assistant Professor
Business Administration