Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Wednesday said that marine fisheries have a huge role to play in the development of blue economy.
“We need to export resources to revive the economy. For this we have to develop blue economy and marine fisheries can play a huge role in this regard,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a seminar on ‘Coastal Fisheries Development Management: Blue Economy and Vision 2041 Perspective’, organized by Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium at Farmgate here as the chief guest on the occasion of National Fisheries Week-2021.
The minister said Vision 2041 is to fully establish a happy, prosperous and modern state system.
If Bangladesh is able to become economically prosperous, it will be developed, he said, adding : ” If we want to be economically prosperous, we have to boost up our economy.”
He said through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s prudent diplomacy, the sovereignty has been established in sea border.
Terming sea as the largest resource of the blue economy of the country, he said proper collection of marine aquatic resources such as conventional or unconventional fish and seaweed will be the biggest supply in terms of export in the country.
In order to develop blue economy, it is necessary to bring this field in line by taking care of conventional fish, non-conventional fish and seaweed, he added.
“These marine fisheries will enrich our blue economy through food and nutrition alongside ensuring the export,” he said.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared after independence that fish would be the second major source of foreign exchange earnings and now fish production has increased due to proper role and management of the government.
The minister further added the government is implementing a project to extract tuna and similar fish in the deep sea to tap the potentiality of marine fisheries.
Hilsa management and research projects have been taken up, he said, adding that place-friendly projects have been taken up in different parts of the country, including coastal areas and hilly areas.
There is an opportunity for the state to play an important role in the fisheries sector, he continued.
With BFRI Director General (DG) Dr Yahya Mahmud in the chair, the seminar was attended, among others, by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud as special guest.
Fisheries and Livestock Additional Secretary Shyamal Chandra Karmakar and Additional Director General of Fisheries Department Mahbubul Haque were also present as the guests of honor.
