Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in collaboration with the Bangladesh government’s Department of Fisheries in 2013–2016 for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of the incentive-based hilsa fishery management programme. The project has successfully assessed the current ecological and socioeconomic dynamics of the hilsa fishery as well as institutional capacity needs, opportunities and gaps and proposed a national Hilsa Conservation Foundation. The project has played an important role in informing the design of the incentive-based hilsa management programme and created a platform for dialogue among various hilsa stakeholders in Bangladesh and beyond.