Bay of Bengal Large Bay of Bengal Large Marine EcosystemMarine Ecosystem

Derek StaplesDerek StaplesFAO, BangkokFAO, Bangkok

ContentsContents

BOBLME

Ecosystem approach to fisheries

Data needs/coordination

– Where to from here

Background & Background & perspectiveperspective BOB 2,900km x 1600km 8 countries – EEZ & high seas Small GDPs

– High level of poverty 1.5 billion people (25% world)

– 400 million in coastal catchments– Expected growth 20% by 2015

Large fishing dependency– Part-time & small scale

PDF-B phase of BOBLME PDF-B phase of BOBLME ProgrammeProgramme

Sustainable Management of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem– Implementing Agency: World Bank

– Executing Agency: FAO

Draft Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis

Agreed project brief

Priority issues/needsPriority issues/needs

Overexploitation of living marine resources

Critical habitats

Land-based pollution

Over-exploitation of marine living Over-exploitation of marine living resourcesresources

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)

Merging of 2 paradigms

– Ecosystem management• Ecosystem health

• Manages biophysical (eg MPAs)

– Fisheries management• Human needs

• Manages fishing activities (target resources)

Sustainable Sustainable developmentdevelopment

Human well-being Ecological well-being

Social Economic Ecological [Governance]

Overall ApproachOverall Approach

High level policy goals

Broad fishery objectives

Priority issues & operational objectives

Indicators & performance measures

Monitor & review

Data/information needsData/information needs Policy formulation

– Role in regional, national and local economy and social setting

– Uses and users– Socio-economic background

Data/information needsData/information needs Management plans

– Background• Ecosystem boundaries

– Objectives (operational level)• Social, economic and ecological

– Management measures• Specific intervention eq

Data/information needsData/information needs Implementing, monitoring & review

– Indicators of objectives– Success criteria

What management area?What management area?Who is responsible?Who is responsible?

Existing institutions– Fisheries

• APFIC• SEAFDEC• BOBP-IGO

– Environmental• SACEP

– Economic cooperation• SAARC• BIMSTEC

Lessons learntLessons learnt

Existing policy

Community-based/co-management

Integrated coastal management

Selected trans-boundary Selected trans-boundary speciesspecies

Over-arching fisheries data and information system

– Sharks (All)– Indian mackerel (IBMTM)– Sharks (IBM)

Mergui archipelagoMergui archipelago

Mapping of existing fish refugia Establishment of common regional

data requirements and protocols Institutional arrangements Development of a regional action plan Training and capacity building

ChallengesChallenges

• What areas & who’s responsible

• Agreed policy objectives

• Decision making in absence of

data/information

• Filling data/information gaps

• Participation of stakeholders

• Monitoring & evaluation

Thank YouThank You

Website

– http://www.fao.org/fi/boblme/website/index.htm