Fisheries

For thousands of Bangladeshi fishermen and honey collectors, setting out onto the waters of the Sundarbans to earn a daily livelihood has abruptly devolved into a deadly gamble.

The government notified rules and guidelines for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and high seas in 2025.

The government plans to expand FPPO coverage to more districts and scale up FIDF approvals based on state proposals.

Looking ahead, ICAR-CIFRI is advancing IoT-based real-time water quality monitoring (dissolved oxygen, ammonia, turbidity) and drone/ROV technologies for macrophyte mapping, fish behaviour studies and waterbody assessment.

The satyagraha started with fishermen from multiple coastal districts, including Mullaitivu and Kokilai in the north, converging on Colombo to voice their grievances.

The minister said that the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)has recently assessed the status of fish stocks of major commercial fish species in the Indian waters. As per the studies on fish stocks, it is revealed that the stocks are in good health and 91.1 per cent of the 135 fish stocks evaluated in different regions during 2022 were found sustainable.

The gulper shark controversy in the Maldives encapsulates a broader global tension: how to steward oceanic biodiversity amid competing economic interests. For a nation once celebrated as a conservation pioneer, the unfolding debate raises hard questions about identity, priorities and legacy.

With 2026 designated the Year of Water, Blue Davos seeks to shift perceptions – elevating water from a peripheral issue to a core developmental and economic priority.