The "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024" report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provides a comprehensive overview of global fisheries and aquaculture trends, highlighting key developments and shifts in the industry.  The main findings from the report are as follow:

1. Record Production Levels: World fisheries and aquaculture production reached a new high of 223.2 million tonnes in 2022. This marks a significant increase in global production and underscores the growing importance of both capture fisheries and aquaculture in meeting global seafood demand.
2. Aquaculture Dominance: For the first time, aquaculture has surpassed capture fisheries as the leading source of aquatic animals. This shift reflects the increasing reliance on farmed seafood to support global consumption and mitigate pressures on wild fish stocks.
3. India's Prominent Role:
   • Aquatic Animals Production: India ranked second globally in the production of aquatic animals, contributing 8 percent to the world’s total production. This highlights India’s significant role in the global aquaculture industry.
   • Inland Fisheries: India also led in inland fisheries production, with a notable output of 1.9 million tonnes. This positions India as a major player in both freshwater and marine aquaculture sectors.
4. Special Focus on "Blue Transformation": The report’s special focus on “Blue Transformation in Action” emphasizes the ongoing changes and innovations in the sector aimed at improving sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. This includes advancements in aquaculture practices, efforts to reduce overfishing, and initiatives to protect marine ecosystems.

Role of Aquatic Foods in Climate Action

1. Climate Solutions from Aquatic Foods:

• Carbon Sequestration: Marine environments, such as seagrass meadows and mangroves, are known to sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide. Healthy aquatic ecosystems can help mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon.
• Low Carbon Footprint: Aquatic foods, particularly from well-managed fisheries and sustainable aquaculture, can offer a lower carbon footprint compared to terrestrial animal farming. Fish and other aquatic species often have high feed conversion efficiency, meaning they produce more edible biomass per unit of feed.
• Resilience to Climate Impacts: Aquatic food systems can contribute to climate resilience. For instance, diversified marine ecosystems are better at withstanding and adapting to climate impacts, ensuring continued food security and livelihoods.

2. FAO's Approach to Climate Adaptation:

• Integration of Traditional Knowledge: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is incorporating traditional knowledge and practices to adapt to climate change. This includes leveraging local knowledge on species that are well-suited to evolving environmental conditions, which can improve resilience and sustainability in aquatic food systems.

Blue Transformation Vision

1. Overview of Blue Transformation:

• Introduction: Launched in 2021, the FAO’s “Blue Transformation” vision aims to harness the potential of aquatic food systems to enhance global food security, improve nutrition, and achieve broader sustainability goals.
• Key Objectives:
  • Sustainable Aquaculture Expansion: Promotes the growth of aquaculture to meet rising global demand for seafood while ensuring that benefits are equitably distributed among communities. This involves adopting practices that minimize environmental impact and support socio-economic development.
  • Effective Fisheries Management: Focuses on managing fish stocks in a way that maintains ecological balance and ensures the long-term viability of fisheries. This approach supports the health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those dependent on them.
  • Upgraded Aquatic Value Chains: Seeks to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of value chains from capture and culture through to processing and consumption. This includes improving practices to reduce waste, increase economic benefits, and ensure social and environmental sustainability.

The management of fisheries and aquaculture within the framework of global biodiversity agreements like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the 2023 treaty on marine biological diversity is crucial for several reasons. Here’s how these agreements intersect with fisheries and aquaculture:

1. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

• Overview: Adopted in 2022, the GBF is a comprehensive global strategy aimed at halting biodiversity loss and enhancing ecosystem resilience. It provides targets and guidelines for countries to create national plans that protect biodiversity and promote sustainable practices.
• Relevance to Aquatic Food Systems:
  • Management of Aquatic Spaces: One of the GBF targets involves improving the management of marine and freshwater areas. This is directly relevant to fisheries and aquaculture, which depend on healthy aquatic environments. Sustainable management practices can help prevent overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution.
  • Reduction of Species Extinction Risk: Fisheries and aquaculture impact many species, both targeted and non-targeted. Effective management can reduce bycatch and protect endangered species, contributing to the GBF’s goal of reducing extinction risks.
  • Restoration of Ecosystems: The GBF includes targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, which can enhance the health of fisheries and aquaculture systems by improving habitats and biodiversity.

 Treaty on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

• Overview: This legally binding treaty focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), which are parts of the ocean that lie outside of any country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• Relevance to Aquatic Food Systems:
  • Conservation Measures: The treaty aims to implement conservation measures in ABNJ, which are critical for maintaining the health of global marine ecosystems. Effective conservation in these areas can help support global fish stocks and prevent ecosystem degradation that impacts fisheries.
  • Sustainable Use: The treaty emphasizes sustainable use of marine resources, which directly impacts how fisheries operate in these international waters. Ensuring sustainable practices helps in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and the availability of fish stocks.
  • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The establishment of MPAs in ABNJ is a key component of the treaty. MPAs can serve as refuges for marine species, help restore fish populations, and improve the overall health of the marine environment, benefiting both wild fisheries and aquaculture operations.
  • Research and Data Sharing: The treaty promotes scientific research and data sharing, which can enhance our understanding of marine biodiversity and support better management practices for fisheries and aquaculture.

Integration with National Plans

Countries are expected to incorporate these global frameworks into their national biodiversity strategies and action plans. For fisheries and aquaculture, this means:

• Aligning Practices: National policies and practices for fisheries and aquaculture need to align with GBF targets and the provisions of the 2023 treaty to ensure that they contribute to global biodiversity goals.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Regular monitoring and reporting on the status of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity are essential to track progress and make adjustments as needed to meet global commitments.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to India marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. The visit lasted for two days and included extensive talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Vision Documents Released

1. India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future
   • Title: “India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future: Enhanced Connectivity, Commerce and Collaboration for Shared Prosperity”
   • Objective: This document aims to align with the national development visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041, focusing on strengthening digital partnership.
2. Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership
   • Objective: Enhance digital infrastructure and cooperation between the two countries.
3. Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future
   • Objective: Joint efforts for sustainable development and climate-resilient growth.

Key Agreements and Initiatives

1. Counter-Terrorism and Border Management
   • Enhanced Cooperation: Strengthened collaboration on counter-terrorism, counter-radicalization, and border management.
   • Rivers Management: Formation of a joint technical committee to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and conserve the Teesta River.
2. Maritime and Disaster Management
   • Blue Economy and Oceanography: Renewal of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on maritime cooperation and oceanography for research and development.
   • Disaster Management: Improved disaster response and risk reduction, with a commitment to co-leading the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) pillar.
3. Space and Defense Cooperation
   • Space Technology: MOU to jointly develop and launch a small satellite for Bangladesh.
   • Defense Modernization: Support for the modernization of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces and enhanced defense industrial cooperation.
4. Connectivity Initiatives
   • Rail and Road Services: Introduction of a new passenger train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata; trial runs of goods trains planned between Gede-Darshana and Haldibari-Chilahati.

5. Bus Services and Inland Development

• New Bus Service: A new bus service was inaugurated between Kolkata and Chittagong, enhancing people-to-people connectivity.
• Inland Container Depot: Development of the inland container depot in Sirajganj to boost trade and logistics.

6.Power Trade

• Sub-Regional Power Trade:
  • Initial Agreement: Agreement on the export of 40 megawatts of power from Nepal to Bangladesh via the Indian grid.
  • High-Capacity Interconnection: Acceleration of the construction of a 765 kilowatt high-capacity interconnection project between Bihar and Assam via Bangladesh, supported by Indian financial assistance.

7.People-to-People Exchanges

• E-Medical Visas: Introduction of an e-Medical Visa facility for Bangladeshi patients traveling to India for medical treatment.
• New Consular Office: Opening of an Indian Assistant High Commission in Rangpur to enhance diplomatic and consular services.
• Human Resource Development: Agreements on training and capacity building across various sectors to foster mutual growth.

8.Trade and Economic Cooperation

• CEPA Negotiations: Early commencement of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to deepen economic ties.
• Border Haats: Opening of new border haats to facilitate trade and improve the livelihoods of people living along the borders.
• Fisheries and Health: Renewal of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) in the fisheries and health sectors to promote collaboration.

Overall Impact

During the visit, ten significant agreements were concluded, underscoring the depth and breadth of the discussions between the two leaders. These agreements aim to enhance connectivity, foster economic growth, improve people-to-people ties, and address mutual challenges, reflecting a substantive and forward-looking partnership between India and Bangladesh.

India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future: Key Aspects of Enhanced Connectivity, Commerce, and Collaboration

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India unveiled a comprehensive framework to deepen India-Bangladesh relations under the "Shared Vision for Future" initiative. The agreement outlines an ambitious roadmap for enhancing connectivity, commerce, collaboration, and mutual growth. Here are the key components of the vision:

1. Enhanced Connectivity

• Multi-Modal Transport and Infrastructure:
  • Expansion of cross-border trade and transit infrastructure.
  • Improvement of physical connectivity through various transport modes.
• Sub-Regional Connectivity:
  • India will provide transit facilities for Bangladeshi goods to Nepal and Bhutan.
  • Operationalization of the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicle Agreement.
  • New MOU on enhancing railway connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
• Energy and Digital Connectivity:
  • Development of intra-regional electricity trade.
  • High-capacity interconnection projects to boost energy collaboration.
  • Initiatives to advance digital infrastructure under the "Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership."

2. Commerce and Trade

• Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA):
  • Negotiations to enhance bilateral trade and investment.
• Special Economic Zones (SEZs):
  • Activation of SEZs in Mongla and Mirsharai offered by Bangladesh to India.
• Trade Facilitation:
  • Improvement of trade infrastructure.
  • Opening of new border haats.
  • Enhancement of road, rail, air, and maritime connectivity.

3. Collaborative Development Initiatives

• Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future:
  • Partnership in green and digital technologies for sustainable and climate-resilient development.
• Emerging Technologies Collaboration:
  • Joint development in civil nuclear technology, oceanography, space technology, and a small satellite for Bangladesh.
• Water Resource Management:
  • Exchange of data and interim frameworks for water sharing.
  • Renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and conservation of the Teesta River.

4. Defense and Security

• Defense Cooperation:
  • Support for the modernization of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces through industrial cooperation.
  • Increased multifaceted military engagements.
• Peace and Stability:
  • Commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
  • Co-leading the ‘Disaster Risk Reduction and Management’ pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

5. People-to-People Ties and Cultural Exchange

• Cultural and Historical Linkages:
  • Promotion of exchanges among Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters), scholars, artists, tourists, students, and youth.
• Medical and Educational Support:
  • Enhanced programs for Muktijoddhas and their families.
  • Extension of the e-Medical Visa facility for Bangladeshi patients.
• New Consular Services:
  • Opening of an Indian Assistant High Commission in Rangpur to facilitate consular and visa services.

6. Youth Development and Capacity Building

• Educational and Skill Development:
  • Promotion of youth development through education, skilling, entrepreneurship, technology, sports, and cultural industries.
• Capacity Building Programmes:
  • Expansion of programs for civil services, judicial officers, police, and other specialized services in Bangladesh.

7. Regional and Global Cooperation

• Regional Integration:
  • Vision for India-Bangladesh relations to anchor regional and sub-regional integration under BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), and IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) architectures.
• Global Platforms Collaboration:
  • Joint efforts on global platforms to promote common interests, especially for the Global South.

Conclusion

The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India emphasized a deepening of the India-Bangladesh partnership, aiming to transform the relationship into a future-ready alliance. The agreements and vision documents reflect a commitment to shared prosperity, enhanced connectivity, and collaborative growth, marking a significant step in the bilateral relationship’s evolution into a new ‘Golden Chapter.’