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The government has taken a move to catch tuna and pelagic fishes from the Bay of Bengal as part of its attempt to explore marine resources under its blue economy policy, an official said.
Under the move, department of fisheries which is under the ministry of fisheries and livestock has taken up a pilot project to explore marine resources including tuna and pelagic fishes.
The project titled "Exploring (catching) tuna and pelagic fishes from the deepsea in the Bay of Bengal" has certain objectives including creating skilled manpower and encouraging private-sector entrepreneurs to invest in the fishing sector.
"We have undertaken a pilot project to catch tuna and pelagic fishes from the deep sea in the Bay of Bengal under the government's blue economy plan," chief scientific officer of department of fisheries Mizanur Rahman told the FE on Wednesday.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the pilot project on Tuesday last, he said, adding that initially, the project will be implemented at a cost of Tk 610 million.
The project which was launched in July 2020 will end in June 2023.
United Nations tribunals had awarded Bangladesh a total of 118,813 square kilometres areas of the Bay of Bengal following its legal battle against Myanmar and India.
The country has plenty of opportunity to tap marine resources, the fisheries department official said, adding that they will hire foreign experts mainly from India and Sri Lanka to train the local people to catch tuna and pelagic fishes from the Bay of Bengal.
He said they will purchase three long liner fishing vessels and provide training to the persons who will catch tuna and pelagic fishes in the Bay of Bengal.
"Initially, we will train 100 people to catch tuna and pelagic fishes." The government will appoint seven international and 37 local consultants to make the pilot project a success, he added.
The fishing sector plays an important role in ensuring food security and boosting the country's economic growth.
It contributes 3.50 per cent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
The GDP growth in the fisheries sector has increased 5.26 per cent over the last 10 years, according to a Bangladesh Economic Survey-2019 report.