The committee responsible for the marine fisheries and ecosystem survey conducted by research vessel RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen submitted its report to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser at a meeting held Tuesday morning at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The survey, carried out from August 21 to September 21 of the previous year, involved 25 scientists from eight countries, including 13 from Bangladesh. Professor Sayedur Rahman presented the findings, revealing the discovery of 65 new aquatic species and alarming signs of imbalance due to overfishing, such as excessive jellyfish growth and plastic found at depths of 2,000 meters.

The report indicated a decline in large fish compared to 2018 and warned that aggressive sonar-based targeted fishing by 70 of 270–280 deep-sea trawlers threatens fish stocks and coastal livelihoods. The Fisheries Adviser cautioned that such practices could deplete the Bay of Bengal and said the government would decide on sonar fishing. The Chief Adviser emphasized the need for research and policy support to utilize marine resources effectively and highlighted cooperation with Japan, Indonesia, and the Maldives for joint research.

It was also disclosed that the UK’s Royal Navy vessel HMS Enterprise is being transferred to the Bangladesh Navy to strengthen oceanographic research and data collection capabilities.