Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has warned that illegal, unregulated and excessive fishing in the Bay of Bengal is causing a sharp decline in marine fish stocks, posing a serious threat to the country’s ocean resources.

Speaking at a briefing on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)-Nansen Survey 2025 at a city hotel on Sunday afternoon, the adviser said the recent R.V. Dr. Fridtjof Nansen survey findings compel Bangladesh to rethink its marine fisheries management strategies.

She said the survey shows an overall decline in fish stocks, triggered by overfishing and harmful gear. Of the country’s 273 industrial trawlers, 72 operate with advanced technology, but due to misuse, they cause unwanted catch and significant wastage, she added.

Farida noted alarming environmental indicators in the Bay—including low-oxygen zones, expanding oxygen-depleted areas, high concentrations of microplastics and the unusual proliferation of jellyfish—stressing that these are “clear warning signs” of a marine ecosystem under severe threat.

“The sea is our invaluable asset, but our mismanagement is damaging it,” she cautioned. “If we fail to act now, future generations will be deprived of what rightfully belongs to them.”

She called for stricter limits on the issuance of industrial trawler licences and tighter controls on trawler-based fishing. After receiving the final report in mid-December, the government will hold a coordinated meeting with all stakeholders, researchers and scientists to determine necessary actions, she said.

“We will not simply receive the report and sit idle—we must decide on prompt measures,” she added, noting that scientific planning is essential to realise Bangladesh’s ambitions for deep-sea fisheries.

The adviser urged continued support from the Norwegian government and FAO for future surveys in 2027–28, and emphasized the necessity of acquiring Bangladesh’s own research vessel.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber said Norway and FAO have played a vital role in enhancing Bangladesh’s scientific capacity and modern survey methods.

The 2018 Dr. Fridtjof Nansen survey was a milestone, providing the first modern, ecosystem-based assessment of marine resources after the delimitation of the country’s maritime boundary, he added.

The preliminary findings of the latest survey were officially presented today, revealing updated data on Bangladesh’s marine biodiversity and resource status. Scientists reported the presence of 475 fish species, 36 shrimp species, 5 lobster species, 15 crab species, 5 species of turtles and 13 coral species in the Bay of Bengal.

The survey also identified 65 new fish species, including five species found exclusively in the Bay, according to Bangladeshi marine scientists. They warned that climate change, pollution and environmental degradation are placing marine life under increasing threat, calling for collective action without delay.

The month-long survey, conducted from 21 August to 21 September 2025, is the second full-scale marine ecosystem assessment in Bangladesh since 2018.