The Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh is poised to revolutionize its marine fish extraction sector by introducing pelagic fishing, specifically targeting tuna, in the Bay of Bengal’s Exclusive Economic Zone and international waters.
Despite the Bay of Bengal boasting a vast exclusive economic zone spanning 119K square kilometers, Bangladesh has limited its fish extraction endeavors to a mere 24,000 square kilometers at a depth of 100 meters. This has left tuna and similar pelagic fish untouched in the deeper waters at 200 meters.
With no surveys conducted in this marine expanse, the Department of Fisheries has granted approval for at least 19 companies to harvest tuna. However, the initiation of this fishing activity has faced delays. In a bid to attract domestic investors, the Department has taken the reins, initiating a project focused on harvesting and surveying tuna.
Anticipating success, the Department foresees a surge in investor interest if the experimental tuna fish extraction project proves fruitful. Two vessels, set to be imported from China for USD $2.17 million, will kickstart the deep-sea tuna fish extraction operation in February next year.
The Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries Department, Khandkar Mahbubul Haque, sheds light on the global demand for tuna and the potential benefits for Bangladesh. If the tuna fish extraction project takes flight, it could unlock new opportunities in the marine fish extraction sector, contributing to the blue economy. Prospects of exporting tuna to various European countries, including Japan, further sweeten the deal.
The Department of Fisheries initiated a pilot project from July 2020 to December 2023, initially budgeted at about USD $5.5 million for three ships. However, due to crises, including the surge in the value of the dollar, the project has been scaled down to two ships. The project’s timeline has been extended by 18 months, now concluding in June 2025. The estimated cost has been adjusted to about USD $4.9 million.
Zobaidul Alam, the director of the Pilot Project for “Deep Sea Tuna and Homogeneous Pelagic Fish Harvesting”, addresses the challenges posed by the dollar crisis. Despite a ban on ship purchases since July 2022, the government’s special approval has paved the way for the procurement of two vessels from China’s Uni Marine Services Pvt.
Regulated by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, tuna fish harvesting in the Indian Ocean Basin involves 30 member countries, with Bangladesh joining the commission on April 24, 2018. Shaukat Kabir Chowdhuri, Assistant Director of Marine Fisheries Department and Focal Person of Indian Ocean Tuna Fish Commission of Bangladesh, discloses plans for a survey at a depth of 200 meters in national waters and an international pilot project for tuna fish harvesting in the Indian Ocean.
In the Bay of Bengal, the Department of Fisheries notes the presence of eight species of tuna and more than 10 species of pelagic fish. Despite global demand, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have been unable to tap into the tuna fishing sector. In 2019, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock granted permission to 19 companies to fish tuna, yet no investments materialized.
The new project aims to utilize longlines for fishing tuna from depths of 200 meters in the ocean, with Project Director Jobaidul Alam expressing optimism about the success of the initiative. Currently, fish are harvested in four deep-sea areas, each approximately 100 km from the shore, requiring an arduous 18-hour journey.
The main challenge lies in the distance required to extract tuna fish, necessitating a voyage to areas near India and Sri Lanka, 380 nautical miles away in the exclusive economic zone and international waters. While this journey takes at least three days from Bangladesh, competitors from Sri Lanka and India can reach the area within 3 to 5 hours.
Despite the government’s approval, the director of the Marine Fisheries Association emphasizes the need for surveys detailing the abundance and locations of tuna in the country’s waters. Specific information is crucial for investors who may otherwise be hesitant due to the substantial investment required. The association has appealed to the government for easy loan facilities to propel the tuna fish sector forward. The fate of Bangladesh’s tuna fish sector hangs in the balance, awaiting the currents of progress to guide its course.
