Norwegian research vessel embarks on survey of BD’s marine realm

Business Report :

Bangladesh is set to launch a month-long marine survey in the Bay of Bengal to assess fishery resources and ecosystem health, aiming to support sustainable management and conservation efforts.

Conducted with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Norway, the expedition will begin on August 21 using the Norwegian research vessel “RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen”.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar shared the details at a press conference held on Tuesday at the fisheries ministry in Dhaka.

Twenty-six researchers from various countries, including 13 scientists from different institutions in Bangladesh, will take part in this approximately 32-day expedition.

The fishery resources extracted from the Bay of Bengal play a significant role in the country’s economic growth, food security, and employment, the adviser said.

Ensuring proper management of Bangladesh’s marine waters will further strengthen this sector’s contribution to the national economy, she added.

She said the survey will assess the abundance and stock of small pelagic and mesopelagic fish, evaluate the species diversity of demersal fishery resources, and analyze the overall condition of the marine ecosystem.

Additionally, data will be collected on sea temperature, salinity, current speed, productivity, deep-sea circulation systems, and climate change impacts, she said.

Research on micro plastics, marine debris, oxygen minimum zones, carbon dioxide levels, and ocean acidification will be conducted, which will help formulate effective policies to combat the impacts of climate change in the future, she said.

The adviser further said the scientific data obtained from this survey will assist in fishery resource conservation, sustainable harvesting, climate change adaptation, and protection of the marine environment.

Norway has always supported Bangladesh in sustainable fisheries management and marine research, Marianne Rabe Knaevelsrud, deputy head of mission of the Norwegian embassy in Dhaka, said at the event.

The survey will help ensure sustainable fisheries management, said Jiaoqun Shi, FAO representative in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Norway’s cutting-edge marine research vessel, RV D Fridtjof Nansen, has set sail for Bangladesh’s maritime waters From August 21 to September 21, the state-of-the-art ship, operating in partnership with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), will gather vital data that could redefine Bangladesh’s approach to fisheries management, climate resilience, and ocean conservation.

The mission marks a significant moment in the nation’s marine science history, one that promises not only to illuminate the mysteries of the deep but also to lay the foundation for sustainable development of its blue economy.

The RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen is no stranger to Bangladeshi waters. First deployed here in 1979, and again in 1980, the vessel helped pioneer early assessments of the Bay of Bengal’s fish stocks. In 2018, it returned for a major ecosystem study – now, its third visit underscores Bangladesh’s growing commitment to science-based marine governance.

Using advanced sonar, trawling equipment, and water sampling technologies, they will assess fish populations, plankton distribution, and environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, nutrient levels, turbidity, and ocean currents.

Particular attention will be paid to mesopelagic fish – small, deep-dwelling species that inhabit the ocean’s twilight zone (200-1,000 metres below the surface). Though rarely seen, these creatures form the foundation of the marine food web and play a crucial role in carbon sequestration.