The Blue Economy is a concept which brings together economic development and conservation of marine resources. If this framework can be implemented, it can ensure food security, protect the ocean environment, employ more people, and can utilise new sources of energy, and provide resources for manufacturing drugs, chemicals, food, etc. The ocean based economy is very profitable and makes large contributions to the world economy, i.e. USD 500 billion.
The government of Bangladesh has recently started to acknowledge the importance of Blue Growth and has decided to focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will incorporate using ocean based resources. Some of these resources include aquatic bio-fuels and renewable energies, which could be an innovative way to meet the growing demands of energy.
Marine resources can also be used to manufacture many valuable products such as pharmaceuticals, antifouling paints, etc. The marine ecosystem also provides jobs and a means of earning their livelihoods to millions of people who live in the coastal zones of Bangladesh.
The coastal and marine ecosystems of Bangladesh are faced by multiple changes, caused both by climate change and human intervention. As of right now, the changes caused by climate change pose a greater threat to coastal and marine habitats. These changes can affect fish production, cause more climate related disaster, which will in turn result in more lives lost, destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods. To combat these obstacles caused by climate change, the government has to take some necessary steps. It has to identify which marine areas are important for the economy and then take planned steps to conserve these areas. It is equally important for the government to pay attention to the parts of the marine ecosystems which are important and holds potential for developing the Blue Economy. At the same time, it is important to notice how climate change may be affecting these potentials.
When talking about the potentials for Blue economy, what is referred to are the economically important marine resources. These resources are highly profitable and there has been an increasing trend in the revenue from exporting these resources. Marine resources are divided into four categories: living, non-living, renewable resources, and trade and commerce. Each of these categories have ecological and socio-economic importance.
w Living resources: Marine living resources include fisheries, mangroves, seaweed, coral, etc. There are multiple species of crabs, turtles, shrimps, lobsters, dolphins, bony and cartilaginous fishes. These provide huge economic returns. The largest unbroken mangrove forest in Bangladesh is the Sundarbans, and this forest is home to 345 plant species, out of which 245 are economically valuable. Yet there has been a downward trend in revenue from mangrove forests in recent years compared to the 80s and 90s. Saint Martin’s island is the only island in Bangladesh which has coral reefs. 20-22 species of seaweeds also grow on this island which are profitable. According to the Encyclopaedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, species of algae, phytoplankton, and zooplankton have also been recorded in the coastal regions of Bangladesh.
w Non-living resources: These include crude oil, gas, and sea salt. There are also 17 different heavy mineral deposits which have commercial value, e.g. Zircon, Garnet, Ilmenite, etc. Since the boundary dispute with India and Myanmar was settled, the Bangladesh government decided to increase the number of exploratory blocks in the EEZ to 27. Besides, 6000 ha of coastal area is dedicated to sea salt farming, and the tourism sector employs more than a million people.
w Trade and commerce: The coastal regions consist of many popular tourist destinations such as Cox’s Bazar, which is one of the longest sea beaches in the world, the Sundarbans, which is the largest unbroken mangrove forest in the world, and also other parks and islands. Some other commercial uses of marine waters include development of ports (Chattogram, Mongla, and Payra ports), shipbuilding and ship-recycling industries. The ship-recycling industry alone has an estimated turnover of USD 1.5 billion.
Additionally, these four categories also benefit the ecosystem by stabilising the shoreline, maintaining biodiversity, reducing pollution, etc. From the socio-economic angle, they provide benefits such as food security, economic security, empowerment, etc.
It is impossible to ignore the significant effects that climate change will have on Bangladesh. The way Bangladesh is located geographically makes it even more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Records show that in the last 5 decades, the number of cyclones have tripled. Some of the effects of climate change include increased number of floods, droughts, cyclones, changes in rainfall patterns, ocean acidification, etc. The data from 1990 to 2014 show that the most drastic changes have been observed in the frequency of floods, storms, and increase in temperature. Among all these, the highest mortality rate was of cyclones, and the most economic loss was caused by floods and cyclonic storms. It has been predicted that by 2080s, 40% of productive land in the Southern region of Bangladesh will be lost due to a rise in seas levels. Saline water intrusion has already caused a shortage of clean drinking water and almost 20 million people have been affected by this. These changes in climate will also affect the process of transitioning into Blue Economy which is ongoing in the country. Extreme weather events are affecting marine resources which play a vital role in the smooth implementation of the Blue Economy concept. To combat these changes, it is essential to build up the resilience of marine ecosystems. The various ways in which marine ecosystems are affected by climate change and how resilience can be built against these changes is outlined below.
w Rising temperatures can directly affect the life cycles of marine species, disrupt marine food chains, cause coral bleaching. Cyclones can result in loss of coastal resources and degrade coastal habitats. A rise in sea levels can reduce the rate of photosynthesis of off-shore plants, and affect the mangrove ecosystem. As this is affecting the primary producers of marine food chains, it will have consequences which will ultimately affect the fisheries. Erosion can degrade the coastal habitats, cause loss of coastal resources, and increase the mortality of fishes by clogging their air bladders. The acidification of ocean waters can cause changes in the life styles of different marine fishes, loss of biodiversity, coral bleaching, etc. Some of the ways in which these problems can be combated are by planting and restoring mangroves, conserving sea salt and mussel beds, and protecting coral reefs.
w Droughts, saline water intrusion, and changes in rainfall patterns can cause damage to crops in coastal areas and also change species habitats. Insuring the crops can be a way of helping those whose livelihoods depend on these crops.
Considering all the adverse effects Bangladesh is currently facing due to climate change, strengthening the Blue Economy is a smart solution to sustainable grow the economy and also ensure livelihood security. A four-step framework has been put forward which can help to build a climate change resilient Blue Economy in Bangladesh.
- Identification of issues: This step will identify which issues will be faces when building a climate change resistant Blue Economy. Climate change issues are affecting Blue Economy potentials, and activities for building Blue Economy are also affecting climate change, and both sides need to be looked at.
- Prioritising critical issues: Currently climate change is affecting coastal ecosystems, displacing people, and destroying the sources of livelihoods. It is essential to shift focus to those areas which can help to bring about a sustainable Blue Economy. Some of these areas are energy efficiency, building environmental resilience in coastal areas, restoring ecosystems affected by climate change, etc. There are various activities which can be undertaken to conserve the health of ecosystems. Cysts can be produced in salt pans and these in turn can be used in shrimp hatcheries. Floating aquaculture and agriculture can protect crops from erosion and salt water intrusion. There are many devices which will allow potted crops to grow without coming into contact with sea water. Islands can be converted to model islands which is will utilise different strategies and technological inputs to convert islands into economically beneficial areas. For example, Maheshkhali island has salt extraction, fisheries, and agriculture as its main activities. There is a small mangrove forest which provides protection and provides goods and services for enhancing coastal livelihoods. If oyster farms are built, the oysters can filter water and this filtered water can be directed to ponds where it will be useful for aquaculture. If different activities and resources are integrated in this manner, it can provide food, employment, and coastal protection. Farming oysters, seaweed, and other fishes can also be profitable for locals living in Teknaf and Saint Martin’s Island. If oysters can be farmed commercially, a family will be able to meet their monthly expenses by selling 125 kg of oyster meat in a month. Similarly, a family will need to cultivate seaweed in an area of 34 m2 to meet monthly expenses. Ecosystems need to be sustainable managed, conserved, and restored as part of ecosystem-based adaptation so as to help those who are affected by climate change.
- Performing activities to achieve goals: The first step to achieve the goal of implementing a successful Blue Economy is to tackle all the obstacles in its way. Few of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of achieving this are lack of structured plans, no proper integration between different sectors, lack of suitable infrastructure, and improperly educated manpower. Training and education about sustainable management is vital, and therefore courses on this topic should be taught at schools, while also providing higher education on the matter to develop skilled manpower. Fisheries are a highly profitable area, so focus needs to be shifted there too. New fishing areas should be explored, while expanding current commercial fishing areas. New species of fishes such as sea bass, mud crab, turtles can be domesticated. To make the coastal communities more financially stable, they need to be given direct access to financial support. Stakeholders can be offered loans and also made aware of other means of generating income. Surveillance and enforcement for better governance is important for utilising the ocean resources in a way which does not damage them. Coastal communities can be provided with financial incentives to encourage them to protect mangrove forests, coral reefs, mussel and oyster habitats. There should also be policies which protect the ocean environment. Some steps which can be taken are making hotels more ‘green’, sustainable aquaculture to prevent catching of wild fish, treating sewage line, etc.
There has to be better collaboration between countries which share borders so as to protect the underlying ecosystems they also share. Operationalising Sustainable Development Goal 14, which states that the oceans, seas, and marine resources must be conserved and used sustainably, is imperative. Research work needs to be undertaken to engender knowledge and right now, the monitoring of ocean areas is of the highest importance. Marine spatial planning and development tools will be required to help with deciding how to sustainably use ocean areas. Marine reserves and fish sanctuaries should also be established in protected areas. - Achieving the goal: If all the aforementioned steps can be implemented, then the goal of creating a sustainable Blue Economy which is resilient to the effects of climate change can be achieved.
The Bangladesh government has recently started to look into exploring and managing marine resources. All this time marine resources had been overlooked in comparison to other resources. But to achieve the Blue Economy goals, the oceans have to be utilised sustainably. Currently, the two major threats facing the oceans are both climate change and human activities. If the Blue Economy concept is going to become functional in Bangladesh, it is necessary to take a structural approach which will make it easier to implement other plans and activities. These activities can include planting, restoring, and conserving mangroves, conserving salt marshes, mussel beds can help with reducing atmospheric carbon, protection from cyclones and floods. Marine resources can help in another way by providing employment opportunities to people. And lastly, practicing salt tolerant agriculture will prevent intrusion of saline water and pollution, while utilising renewable energy will ensure that energy is being used in a more sustainable fashion, provide food security and also protect the environment.
