India Assumes Chairmanship Of Bay Of Bengal Inter Governmental Organisation

• Location: Malé, Maldives
• India's New Role: India assumes the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) at the 13th Governing Council Meeting.
• Leadership Transition: India takes over the chairmanship from Bangladesh, a historic move that strengthens India’s leadership role in the region.

BACKGROUND

• The 13th Governing Council Meeting of the BOBP-IGO, hosted in the Maldives, also marked a high-level conference on Policy Guidance for Mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries.
• This event was organized by the Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources of the Maldives, in collaboration with the BOBP-IGO, and took place from February 20 to 22, 2025.

INDIA’S LEADERSHIP ROLE

• Indian Delegation: Led by the Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India (GoI), India officially took over the Chairmanship.
• Commitment to Progress: The Secretary emphasized India’s commitment to continuing and enhancing the successes of the BOBP-IGO under its leadership.
  • Focus on marine resource management, research, training, and capacity building for sustainable fisheries development across the Bay of Bengal region.
  • Strengthening regional cooperation for economic development, protection of marine ecosystems, and addressing issues like Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

KEY OBJECTIVES & FOCUS AREAS

• Strengthening Regional Cooperation:
  • Focus on capacity building, research, and policy advocacy to address regional challenges in fisheries management.
  • Promote joint efforts between member countries to tackle shared concerns such as IUU fishing and marine ecosystem protection.
• Boosting the Blue Economy:
  • India’s leadership is aimed at harmonizing economic development with sustainable marine resource utilization to enhance the blue economy.
  • Collaboration with global organizations like FAO, SEAFDEC, and UNODC is expected to strengthen regional fisheries and improve marine ecosystems.
• Focus on Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF):
  • • India will prioritize the development of small-scale fisheries, an essential part of many regional economies.
  • Policies focusing on poverty alleviation, sustainability, and improving the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen will be key areas of focus.

INDIA’S VISION FOR THE FUTURE

• Enhanced Collaboration: India aims to enhance mutual support across BOBP-IGO member countries, leveraging knowledge, technology, and data exchange.
• Building a Sustainable Future: India envisions fostering a cooperative approach to small-scale fisheries that aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and contributes to the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
• Leadership in Fisheries Management: The Department of Fisheries will lead by example in advancing the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, ensuring that policies and actions contribute to the long-term viability of the marine ecosystems and the communities dependent on them.

PM MATSYA SAMPADA YOJANA