Protecting our Marine Ecosystem

There are many problems that the Bay of Bengal has to deal with. These include maritime threats and the effects of climate change on ocean productivity, habitats, and fisheries. Large-scale die-offs are happening more often in the Bay of Bengal. Fast human growth, pollution, and climate change are the reasons behind it. The global food chain and essential ecosystems are affected by these events in significant ways. The plants and animals of the Bay of Bengal need control and monitoring plans to keep them safe from these die-offs. Many people are moving into cities and living in ways that are not sustainable, which is changing the environment in the Bay of Bengal region. Sensitive species are going extinct, the composition of biodiversity is changing, the world food chain is upset, and pathogens are spreading.

Two maritime conflicts in the Bay of Bengal are the illegal exploitation of national resources and the purposeful sea pollution. There are also threats to life and property on board ships or structures. These disputes include illegal fishing, environmental damage, and armed theft. Pollution is the main problem in the Bay of Bengal, killing off vast numbers of marine species. Physical factors like high temperatures and low oxygen levels also play a part, but pollution is the main problem.

Many new tools have been used in the Bay of Bengal to study the ocean and make electricity. The National Institute of Ocean Technology set up the OMNI buoy network, which gives real-time information on oceanographic factors below the surface. Using underwater gliders like the “Barathi” has also improved Bay’s spatial and temporal resolution measures. The idea of a combined floating power plant that uses solar and tidal energy has been considered for efficient and long-lasting power production. However, Bangladeshi industrial trawl fishers in the Bay could be more efficient, which shows that better resource management is needed.

The OMNI buoy system takes readings in the water below to monitor the temperature, salinity, and currents that change heights in the Bay. This system helps us learn more about how the thermohaline and current features in the upper ocean change over time. Underwater gliders and sensor nodes are used in the Bay of Bengal to take very accurate readings of temperature, conductivity, and other factors. This system helps researchers understand climate change and how it works. These new technologies are essential for monitoring changes in the Bay of Bengal and figuring out what part it plays in climate change. They also give researchers, service providers, and people who predict weather and climate change worldwide helpful information.

The government could improve many things in managing the ocean around the Bay of Bengal. For example, Bangladesh must develop a more complete coastal and marine strategy. The ocean’s health also worsens because of illegal, unreported, and unplanned coastal development. To deal with these problems, we need a management and governance system that works across borders to ensure long-term maritime development. We also need a plan to stop illegal, unreported, uncontrolled fishing, as well as national capacity building and regional law frameworks to lower marine pollution that crosses borders.

All states agree that maritime security is necessary to deal with classic and new threats in the Bay of Bengal because it is an essential economic and strategic area. Managing the oceans in the Bay of Bengal is critical for long-term maritime growth and the use of marine resources. Bangladesh is a coastal country, which means it has the sole right to use and study marine resources in the Bay of Bengal.