WorldFish will join the United Nations (UN)-led team providing assistance to the Government of Bangladesh following the release of approximately 350,000 liters of heavy oil into the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Sunderbans, one of the world's largest mangrove ecosystems. On 9 December 2014, the oil tanker Southern Star 7 sank near the port of Mongla in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh.
Oil is particularly toxic to mangroves and experts fear the spill may lead to severe degradation of the rich biodiversity dependent upon this delicate but ecologically important environment. The Sunderbans are also economically important for the many communities in the region that depend on them for their livelihoods. As part of a team assessing the ecological impact of the spill, WorldFish will examine the impacts on fisheries and those whose lives depend on them.
Sunderbans is known for its exceptional biodiversity with as many as 334 plant species and 693 species of wildlife. Areas in the southern Sunderbans were declared a dolphin sanctuary in 2011, after research suggested some 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins lived in the area. The Sunderbans are also a primary migratory route for the hilsa fish, the national fish of Bangladesh and an important source of omega-3 fatty acids.
WorldFish is supporting the Sunderbans clean-up under the auspices of the USAID-funded ECOFISH Bangladesh (Enhanced Coastal Fisheries) project. ECOFISH is aimed at conserving stocks of the national fish of Bangladesh – the hilsa, as well as enhancing the livelihoods of communities reliant on the fisheries for income and nutrition. ECOFISH is implemented by the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries and WorldFish and will improve resilience and governance of specific areas in the Ganges and Meghna River estuarine ecosystems, important for the ongoing survival of hilsa fisheries.
Craig Meisner, Country Director, WorldFish: “Hilsa migratory routes and breeding grounds in the Bay of Bengal are already under threat from pollution, silting and climate change. We will work with partners and local communities to ensure that the effects of this spill can be minimized for fishers dependent on this and all other aquatic resources in the affected region”.
Nathan Sage, Environment Officer, USAID: “The loss of biodiversity, particularly where it provides essential ecosystem services that underpin coastal fisheries, can have dire consequences for associated communities. The results of this work will help in developing and implementing strategies for men and women needing to adapt their livelihoods in the face of ongoing change”.
About WorldFish
WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research organization that harnesses the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty. Globally, more than 1 billion poor people obtain most of their animal protein from fish and 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About CGIAR
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research Centers that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partners.
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