From blue growth to participatory, inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the Bay of Bengal Region

It is well recognized that the oceans are of utmost importance for the future of humanity. Being one of the largest bays in the world, the Bay of Bengal region (BOBR) has greater potential for harnessing the benefits of the blue economy to humankind. In the present synthesis, it is highlighted that all maritime-related activities including fisheries in the region require proper utilization and management for attaining social, economic and ecological goals. It is a fact that the problems of IUU fishing, marine pollution, ineffective marine regulation and the non-traditional security menace are commonplace in the region. Although there has been a significant increase in both capture fisheries and aquaculture in all BOBR countries, potential multiple blue benefits to the BOBR are likely to be challenged due to geopolitical difficulties, pollution and habitat loss, biodiversity degradation, destructive fishing, and climate change apart from the lack of full implementation of legal instruments. Solid waste pollution due to poor management of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear and the rapid and unplanned increase in aquaculture, especially shrimp culture is also becoming a great concern for coastal and marine pollution. Moreover, the benefits of blue growth have been unequally distributed and there are several ‘blue injustices’ that have led to the marginalization of small-scale fishers. The inclusion of small-scale fisheries as a core principle in the blue economy agenda and adoption of an interactive governance approach, where participants would deliberate upon their knowledge, experience, and aspirations could serve as an important platform for bringing in concerns of all parties into the blue economy playing field, which will also strengthen the process of knowledge translation between the community and research and facilitate bringing in research outcomes to the decision-making table.