Status and potential of ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) in Bangladesh

Abstract

The vulnerability of coastal and marine ecosystems provides strong arguments for the adoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) which incorporates both human and ecosystem well-being with good governance practice. The objective of this study is to investigate the present status, future potentials for the development of a framework of the EAFM for the sustainable coastal and marine resource development of Bangladesh. Using both primary and secondary sources of information, this study has found that some levels of EAFM are already in practice to some extent in some specific coastal river ecosystems along the hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) sanctuaries for the protection of juvenile and brood hilsa, but often not implemented and managed in an appropriate planned and objective way. There are some signs of ecosystem well-being for a few fisheries but some levels of deterioration of the ecosystem have been noticed as well. It is unclear how this ecosystem well-being in one hand and its continued interruption and deterioration in another hand interact and affect human well-being for making a resilient society in the fishing communities. The EAFM has great potential to improve both the ecosystem and human well-being in the coming years as well as to contribute to the blue economy and achieve some SDG targets. However, how the ecosystem's well-being will be translated into social well-being will depend on the efficiency of governance, particularly maintaining inclusiveness and equitable benefit sharing among resource users.