GUNTER Pauli (2010) designed the blue economy concept. The blue economy is envisaged as the integration of ocean economy development with the principles of social inclusion, environmental sustainability and innovative, dynamic business models.
More simply, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, blue economy was viewed as ocean economy that aims at the “improvement of human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Whereas, the European Commission (2012) has defined the concept of blue economy as “all economic activities related to the oceans, seas and coasts’.
Blue Economy & Sustainable Development
Blue economy and sustainable development are inter-related. A widely-used and accepted international definition of sustainable development is: ‘Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’-‘Globally we are not even meeting the needs of the present let alone considering the needs of future generations.’ (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/what/principles.htm)
Coastal and Island developing countries have remained at the forefront of this Blue Economy advocacy, recognizing that the oceans have a major role to play in humanity’s future.
Bangladesh’s economy is sea borne to a good extent and with $130 billion GDP the country’s economy stands the 44th. Estimates suggest some 30 million Bangladeshi directly depend on oceanic economic activities like fisheries and commercial transportation.
In Bangladesh, discussions on blue economy started after the settlement of maritime boundary delimitation dispute with Myanmar (2012) and India (2014).
The Blue Economy–Opportunities for Bangladesh
Opportunities for the development of blue economy in Bangladesh mostly depends on sustainable and wise uses, including short and long term planning/strategy in the sectors, such as i. Shipping and port facilities, ii. Seaborne trade, iii. Fisheries, iii. Coastal tourism, iv. Aquaculture, v. Renewable blue energy, vi. Biotechnology, vii. Submarine mining etc.
Sustainable Marine Fishery Ecosystem & Blue Economy
Marine fisheries contribute at least 20% of total fish production in Bangladesh and 500,000 people are directly dependent on the sector. According to the Bay of Bengal Large Maritime Ecosystem project (BoBLME, 2009-2015), about 60 lac tons of (16% of world production) are produced annually from the Bay of Bengal.
The eight BOB LME countries have 1.78 billion people in total which is 25% of the world’s population. It is rich in natural mineral and energy resources; marine living resources and forest and land resources. They yield more than 7% of global marine catch (6 m ton/year). It has extensive tracts of mangroves (12% of the world), coral reefs (8% of the world) and sea grass beds. An area of high biodiversity, with a large number of endangered and vulnerable species. Its natural resources are of considerable social and economic importance to the countries that border the Bay of Bengal.
There are over 400,000 fishing boats operating in the Bay of Bengal and over 4.5 million people are employed in fisheries and associated activities. But rapid population growth, high dependence on aquatic resources for food, trade and livelihoods, change in land use patterns are having major impacts on the marine ecosystem.
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and LME assessments show significant warming trends from which model projections 2040-2060 forecast a steady decline in ocean productivity.
The implementation of integrated, ecosystem-based approaches, removal of fishery subsidies that drive over-exploitation offer the prospect of restoring key stocks and increasing catches, thereby securing livelihoods and enhancing food security.
Chittagong Port, its potentiality and constraints on sustainable development of our blue economy
Shipping and Port Facilities-
To develop blue economy in Bangladesh, the three ports- Chittagong, Mongla and Pyra have to be developed as transit points.
Chittagong port alone handles more than 90% of import and export. Situated on the Karnaphuli river, close to the Bay of Bengal, Chittagong port is described as the lifeline of the Bangladeshi economy.
Experts opinion is that, Chittagong port, can become a regional economic hub, if the facilities being modernized/ upgraded to the requirements for an standard international sea port.
Also the port requires a separate division on EMP (Environmental Management Plan) and Environmental Monitoring & Impacts (EIA) assessment team with trained an skilled human resources equipped with modern facilities to deal /detect pollution, reception and treatment of ballast water from incoming vessels etc. It should have Oil Spillage Contingency Plan (OSCP) to combat accidental oil spillage in port, TS & EEZ.
Possibility of offshore gas & oil field in BoB, Bangladesh
As per tribunal’s verdict Bangladesh won back 8 gas-blocks from India and 13 gas-blocks from Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal. According to the Report of USGS5, around 40 Trillion Cubic Foot (TCF) gas may be found in the blocks mentioned above (Daily Bangladesh- Pratidin, 2014). So this can be a major breakthrough to enrich our economic growth in near future.
Risk Factors and Challenges ahead for sustainable growth of blue economy in Bangladesh:
Sustainable blue economy and blue growth for sustainable development are not possible without ensuring maritime security, protecting and preserving marine environment, conserving marine living and non-living resources and preventing marine pollution, piracy, trafficking of drugs, humans and arms, and narco-terrorism have become common in the high seas and EEZ areas of Bangladesh.
The key challenges are
i. Ensuring sovereignty over coastal area. ii. Maintaining security over the EEZ. iii. Establishing marine eco-friendly infrastructure for marine tourists. iv. Protecting against the international criminals within EEZ. v. Maintaining investment friendly environment. vi. Sustainable use of biodiversity. vii. Maintaining eco-balance marine/coastal ecosystems. viii. Preserving mangrove and sea grass. ix. Addressing climate changes and managing carbon emission. x. Managing sea level rise, rising temperature affecting coral bleaching. xi. Addressing ocean acidification and blue carbon. xii. Pollution and marine debris cleaning. and xiii. The fast growing population, intensification of agriculture.
Need Integrated Maritime Policy
What is most important for Bangladesh now is to enact an integrated maritime policy focusing on capacity development and trained manpower on maritime security; maritime pollution; preservation and protection of marine living and non-living resources; oceanographic and marine sciences research and transfer of technology; protecting marine environment; global climate change, etc.
Professor Dr. Md. M. Maruf Hossain
Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries Chittagong University, Bangladesh
