1. Sustainable Management of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem
Rudolf Hermes
Chief Technical Advisor, BOBLME
1st Asia Pacific Regional Targeted Workshop
for GEF IW Projects
Bangkok, Thailand, 27-28 Sept. 2012

2. Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project

3. Some Facts
o 8 countries
o 6.2 million km2
o 450 million people affected
Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project
Transboundary issues
• over exploitation of fish stocks
• habitat degradation
• land based pollution

4. Started in April 2009 (5 year Project)
RCU located in Phuket, Thailand
31 Mill. USD (12.1 million USD GEF)

5. NEW
“A healthy ecosystem and sustainable use of marine living
resources for the benefit of the countries of the Bay of
Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem “
OLD: “to formulate an agreed on Strategic Action Programme (SAP)
whose implementation over time will lead to an environmentally healthy
BOBLME”

6. 5 LME MODULES

7. Development of an Action Plan
Resources Management
Understanding the Environment
Ecosystem Health
Communications and M&E
(a total of 16 Sub-components)
The BOBLME Project has five Components

8. • TDA and SAP
• Integrated Coastal Management
• Policy Harmonization
• Fisheries Resources Assessment and Management
• Transboundary Critical Habitat Management
• Ocean Dynamics, Productivity and Climate Change
• Marine Protected Areas / Fish Refugia
• Ecosystem Health Indicators
• Land-Based Sources of Pollution
• Communications
10 Major Areas of Work in Environment and Fisheries

9. Two major outputs
1. Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)
2. Strategic Action Programme (SAP)

11. Expected Outcomes of the BOBLME Project
• Healthier habitats and ecosystems, sustainable fisheries
• Capacity development
• Stronger governance and regional cooperation
• Increased understanding and better knowledge
• Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
Management (EAFM)

12. Regional reviews on ICM, policy, fisheries
management, MPAs, pollution
Bilateral consultative processes initiated in
transboundary critical habitats
EAFM framework in place (regional assessments,
advisories, WGs / RFMAC, EAFM Training
Most valuable results/innovations/lessons in the areas of
process, stress reduction & environmental status

13. Ecosystem Approach
(Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD)
Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, EAF
(Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO)
Integrated approach to fisheries
to balance diverse societal
objectives, within ecologically
meaningful boundaries
A strategy for the integrated
management of land, water and
living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use
in an equitable way

14. Planning
Implementation
coordinated
Monitoring &
Evaluation
EAF: Integrated Management System
Forestry
Ecosystem level
Cross-sectoral, applying Eco-health Indicators
Ecosystem level
Integrated, cross-sectoral
Mining
Petroleum
Shipping
Marineaffairs
Environment protection and conservation agency
Manufacturing
Tourism
Fishing
Agriculture

15. Project ownership
Selection of national implementing partners
Larger than expected capacity development needs
Major challenges and constraints

16. EAFM Framework
Stock assessment training
Science communication
Priority needs for capacity building

17. ASCLME: Large –scale processes / SAP
CCLME: MPA Guidelines
YSLME: Data visualization
(oceanography), IMTA
“Indonesian Seas” LMEs:
SCSLME, ATSEA, BOBLME
Opportunities for synergies or cooperation with other projects

18. www.boblme.org