Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today stressed the importance of a coordinated plan for assessing and identifying the marine resources of Bangladesh to ensure their optimal utilization. “We are still unaware of our marine resources so that we have to evaluate the recommendations of marine special plan (MSP),” she stated while addressing a workshop at CIRDAP Auditorium as the chief guest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ‘Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project,’ organized by the Directorate of Fisheries, hosted the ‘Inter-ministerial final validation workshop on ‘SMP Web GIS platform.’ The event was chaired by the Director General of Fisheries, Dr. Md Abdur Rouf, with the Secretary to the fisheries and livestock, Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber, attending as a special guest.
During the workshop, Md Zia Haider Chowdhury, Director of the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, welcomed attendees, while Deputy Project Director for MSP Roadmap Dr. Md Shafiqul Azam and project team leader Md Golam Mostafa jointly presented the project’s technical aspects.
Farida Akhter emphasized the Chief Adviser’s focus on the potential of marine and deep sea fisheries, highlighting that the ministry must deepen its efforts in this area, having concentrated primarily on the development of internal fisheries. She noted, “The expected fishing would not be possible despite an increase in production if we fail to protect the fishermen,” stressing the need to safeguard those in the sector and enhance their facilities.
The Chief Adviser has also emphasized the importance of preserving the environment, life, and nature in all developmental efforts, urging a focus on maintaining environmental and social balance.