At the closing ceremony of the 'Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries' project in Dhaka, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter emphasized the urgent need for an integrated plan focusing on Bangladesh’s coastal and deep-sea areas. She warned that unplanned fishing has reduced marine fish stocks and that both declining coastal catches and limited deep-sea access are alarming. Akhter highlighted Bangladesh’s vast potential in marine fisheries and stressed the importance of continuing project activities under the government’s revenue budget even after World Bank funding ends on November 28. She also called for greater recognition and inclusion of women fishers, noting that only 4% currently hold fisher cards. Referring to her experience at COP-30, she underscored climate change as a major factor affecting marine fisheries and urged that it be prioritized in future planning. The event was attended by senior officials, including the Director General of the Department of Fisheries and the ministry’s secretary.