DoMF initiative targets plastic free Bay of Bengal

Staff Reporter:

In a significant step towards protecting the marine environment, Bangladesh’s Department of Marine Fisheries (DoMF) has launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at freeing the Bay of Bengal from plastic pollution—a growing menace to marine biodiversity, human health, and the country’s blue economy.

Since January 2024, the DoMF has been collaborating with 250 commercial fishing trawlers to prevent the dumping of plastic and non-biodegradable waste into the sea. As part of this initiative, waste bins have been installed on each trawler, allowing crews to return collected garbage to shore for proper disposal. Officials estimate that the move could prevent 20 to 25 tons of plastic and polythene waste from entering the ocean annually.

The initiative was preceded by an awareness campaign launched in December 2024. The campaign targeted trawler owners, vessel masters, crew members, and fishing associations to sensitize them to the impacts of plastic pollution.

“Fishermen usually carry food and supplies wrapped in plastic, which used to be dumped overboard,” said Md Faruk Hossain Sagar, assistant director (Ocean) at the DoMF in Chittagong. “Now, with onboard bins, this waste is brought back and handed over to the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) for disposal at designated dumping sites.”

Each trawler carries around 30 to 50 sailors on fishing trips lasting between 15 to 30 days. Without waste management measures in place, the volume of discarded plastic would pose a severe threat to marine life by disrupting fish habitats and the broader food chain.

“Plastic waste not only endangers marine ecosystems but also enters the human body through seafood, leading to health hazards,” Sagar added.