Md. Asaduzzaman
- Our oceans are home to an estimated 94 percent of the world's organisms and produce about half of the world’s oxygen supply – crucial for the survival of humans as a whole.
- About 100 youth – 20 percent of whom are women – are enlisted as Blue Guards to conserve marine biodiversity and reduce pollution in the area.
- Part of the Blue Guards’ duties includes raising awareness among fishing communities about the importance of megafauna conservation, particularly for Jatka catfish and Hilsa brood, as well as deterring the use of illegal nets to fish.
The world’s oceans are home to an estimated 94 percent of the world's organisms. Roughly half of the world’s oxygen supply comes from our oceans, where phytoplanktons – tiny plants that live in water – produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Additionally, these phytoplanktons are also responsible for our oceans acting as carbon sinks by absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases.
However, our oceans are polluted with marine debris that can cause suffocation, entanglement, laceration, infections and internal injuries in animals. Furthermore, marine debris, such as floating plastics, facilitates the spread of invasive organisms, posing a threat to marine ecosystems. Ocean pollution also harms human beings. Toxic chemicals and cancer-causing microplastics have entered the food chain, endangering human health.
Conserving our oceans for future generations
As such, it is crucial to protect and restore our oceans for future generations. WorldFish in Bangladesh enlisted 100 youth – 20 percent of whom are women – living in fishing communities of Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata and Nijhum Dwip marine protected areas as Blue Guards to conserve marine biodiversity and reduce pollution in the area.
"With our oceans covering over 70 percent of the Earth's surface, it is crucial to keep them healthy for the survival of humans as a whole," said Sagorika Smriti, a research associate with WorldFish in Bangladesh.
“We have trained the Blue Guards to protect the marine biodiversity in the area and maximize the potential of the blue economy in Bangladesh," Smriti added.
Securing the livelihoods of fishing communities
The Blue Guards is an initiative under the Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh Phase II (ECOFISH II) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
They are trained in marine biodiversity conservation and provided with the necessary logistics, including jerseys, trousers, caps and shoes to carry out their duties. The project works with local recyclers to discard the plastic materials and other biodegradable materials collected by the Blue Guards safely.
"Our livelihoods are heavily dependent on the seas and rivers. However, a wide range of pollutants, including hazardous plastic materials, harm marine life that eventually affects our livelihoods. This is why beach clean-ups are vital to keeping the ocean pollution-free," shared Manik, a Blue Guard.
Manik also earns approximately Tk 200 to Tk 250 ($1.90 to $2.40) daily, depending on the type of bottles he sells to a local recycler. In 2022, the Blue Guards removed over 9 tons of trash, including plastic and abandoned fishing nets, from the beach and surrounding areas.
Improving the coastal ecosystem health
Part of the Blue Guards’ duties includes raising awareness among fishing communities about the importance of megafauna conservation, particularly for Jatka catfish and Hilsa brood, as well as deterring the use of illegal nets to fish.
"The Blue Guards initiative is helping to conserve biodiversity through the reduction of discarded nets and improving the coastal ecosystem health. This year, the Blue Guards initiative will be extended to include St. Martin Island as well," said Md. Jalilur Rahman, a WorldFish scientist working on the ECOFISH II project.