Why in News?
India Assumes Chairmanship of Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation at the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Male, Maldives.
- Event Hosted by - Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources of the Maldives government, in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).
Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)
- It is a unique regional fisheries body, set up in 2003.
- The decision to establish the Inter-Governmental Organisation (IGO) was taken at the 24th Meeting of the Advisory Committee, held in Phuket, Thailand from 13 -16 October 1999.
- Aim - To assist the member countries in increasing the livelihood opportunities and improving the quality of life of the small-scale/ artisanal fisher folk in the Bay of Bengal region.
- Members - Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka.
- Cooperating parties - Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
- Observers- FAO and all the relevant regional fisheries and environmental bodies and International Non-Governmental Organisations active in the Bay of Bengal region.
- Objectives
- To increase awareness and knowledge of the needs, benefits and practices of marine fisheries management.
- Enhance skills through training and education.
- Transfer appropriate technologies and techniques for development of the small-scale fisheries.
- Establish regional information networking.
- Promote women's participation in marine fisheries value chain.
- Area of competence - Exclusive Economic Zones under the jurisdiction of the Member States (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka) and contiguous areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Structure - Governing Council - Serves as the apex body of the intergovernmental organization (IGO) and meets once a year.
- Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) - Considers the technical aspects of the activities proposed to be undertaken and implemented. It meets once a year.
- Ad-hoc committees –These are constituted for specific purposes from time to time.
- Secretariat- It is the implementing organ of the IGO and implements the decisions taken by the Governing Council.
- Evolution - The Organization evolved from the erstwhile Bay of Bengal Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) founded in 1979.
- It has worked closely with the whole-range of the stakeholders including the R&D Institutions to develop pathways to capacity enhancement for a sustainable future of the region.
- It has set international benchmarks in execution of programs and activities in the field of small-scale fisheries that has translated into measurable benefits for the member countries.
References
- Business Standard | Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation
- BOBP | About
