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Bangladesh’s deep-sea ecosystem is under mounting pressure from overfishing, aggressive industrial practices and plastic pollution, according to new findings presented to the country’s chief adviser on Tuesday, prompting calls for urgent research-driven policy intervention.
The warning came as a high-level committee submitted the findings of a comprehensive marine fisheries and ecosystem survey conducted by the research vessel R.V. Dr Fridtjof Nansen to the interim government at a meeting held at the state guest house Jamuna.
The month-long survey, carried out between 21 August and 21 September last year, involved 25 scientists from eight countries, including 13 Bangladeshi researchers. Presenting the findings, Prof Sayedur Rahman Chowdhury of Chittagong University’s Institute of Marine Sciences said the study identified 65 previously undocumented aquatic species in Bangladesh’s waters.
But the discoveries were overshadowed by troubling trends. “The excessive proliferation of jellyfish in deep waters is a clear sign of ecological imbalance,” Chowdhury said, attributing the phenomenon to overfishing. Researchers also detected plastic waste at depths of up to 2,000 metres, underlining the reach of marine pollution.
A comparison with a 2018 study shows a sharp decline in large fish species in deep waters, while fish stocks in shallow coastal areas are falling at an “alarming” rate. Officials noted that between 270 and 280 large trawlers currently operate in deep-sea fishing, with around 70 using sonar-based targeted fishing – a highly aggressive method.
While such practices increase profits for deep-sea operators, they are devastating for small-scale fishers who depend on shallow waters. “If targeted sonar fishing continues unchecked, the Bay of Bengal could be stripped of fish,” warned fisheries adviser Farida Akhter, adding that the government would soon take a decision on regulating sonar fishing.
The survey also highlighted significant tuna potential in Bangladesh’s deep-sea waters and identified a critical fish nursery beneath the Sundarbans mangrove forest, which authorities have already ordered to be protected.
Addressing the meeting, chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus stressed that Bangladesh has failed to fully understand or utilise its vast maritime resources. “Our maritime area is comparable in size to our landmass, yet we lack even basic data on what resources it holds,” he said. “To unlock this potential, we need sustained research and strong policy support.”
Officials also revealed that a multi-role hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessel, HMS Enterprise, is in the process of being transferred from the UK’s Royal Navy to the Bangladesh Navy, which is expected to strengthen the country’s marine research capacity.
The chief adviser emphasised the importance of coordinated research with countries such as Japan, Indonesia and the Maldives. “We must identify the problems scientifically and work with experts,” he said. “Only then can new economic horizons emerge from the sea.”