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Context:

India Assumes Chairmanship of Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).

News in Detail

India officially took over the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) from Bangladesh during the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives, on February 21, 2025.

The event was part of a high-level conference titled "Policy Guidance for Mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries," hosted by the Maldives’ Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources in collaboration with BOBP-IGO.

Focus Areas in the conference:

Marine Resource Management: Ensuring sustainable fisheries practices.
Capacity Building: Training programs for small-scale fishers.
Research & Policy Advocacy: Aligning policies with global standards via partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) .

About BOBP-IGO

It was established in 2003, as a regional fisheries body to promote sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in the Bay of Bengal region.

Member Countries: India, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Cooperating non-contracting parties include Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

It aims to enhance cooperation among its member countries to improve the livelihoods of fishing communities and ensure the long-term health of marine resources in the Bay of Bengal.

BOBP-IGO evolved from the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP), a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, which was established in 1979. BOBP transitioned into an independent inter-governmental organization in 2003, and became BOBP-IGO.

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The Fisheries Sector in India

Source:

PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Critically examine the impact of climate change on India’s marine ecosystems. How do rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification threaten fish stocks? 150 words