SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE ALLOCATION AND GOVERNANCE IN RELATION TO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

To meet the challenges of supplying food products, for the increasing demands of the growing population, the natural resources and biodiversity management need to focus on how and where the protein source can be exploited from. The wild fishery and aquaculture production are enhanced rationally to fulfill the increasing demand of protein and these are becoming the fastest growing food production system throughout the world. Concurrently, sustainable uses of those exploited resources should be assured for the perpetual supply of this important protein source. Convention on Biological Diversity suggested to conserve at least 10% of the total marine area by 2020 to protect the biodiversity and mitigate the ecological damage. Based on this, aquaculture reflects a positive and alternative way to be executed within the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to mobilize the coastal community for food production, upgrading socioeconomic condition and most importantly to minimize the extraction of excess natural resources. This study was designed to find out the possible best spatial setup for the sustainable aquaculture within the MPAs in Bangladesh. International Union for Conservation of Nature management classification for protected area was used to determine the suitability of aquaculture within the MPAs without conflicting the other management goals. This study proposes some new MPAs based on the critical environmental status along with current MPAs for Bangladesh. Different aquaculture practices are also suggested within these MPAs as a means of maritime spatial planning. Results are expressed in GIS based processed graphical canvas which found potential synergies between aquaculture and MPAs. Implementation of the result will be one of an important key tool for the growth of the blue economy of Bangladesh.