Background

01.    Fisheries play a vital role in livelihood and employment for millions of people across the Bay of Bengal region. The importance of fisheries to food and nutritional security within the region cannot be overestimated. Recognizing the salience of fisheries for economic development and regional food security, fisheries sector was included as one of priority sectors of cooperation, at the 2nd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 19 November 1998, with Thailand serving as the Lead Country. 

02.    Livestock is also an important sector of BIMSTEC countries, providing essential meat, milk, manure and transportation. This sector contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs a significant portion of the population, highlighting its economic and social importance of BIMSTEC countries. The 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 01 April 2021, decided to establish an Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock to deal with issues pertaining to fisheries and livestock. Subsequently, the Leaders of BIMSTEC at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in 2022 approved reconstitution of sectors and sub-sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation and Fisheries sector became Fisheries and Livestock sub-sector under Agriculture and Food Security Sector, with Myanmar as the Lead Country.

INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM

03.    The Fisheries and Livestock sector has three deliberative, reporting and decision-making mechanisms– (i) BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM), (ii) BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Agriculture (SOM-A) and (iii) Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock (EGFL).

04.    Myanmar hosted the 1st Meeting of the BAMM, preceded by the 1st BIMSTEC SOM- A in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on 11-12 July 2019. The 2nd Meeting of BAMM, preceded by the 2nd BIMSTEC SOM-A, was virtually held in New Delhi, India, on 09-10 November 2022. The 2nd BAMM approved inclusion of fisheries and livestock sector under the purview of BIMSTEC SOM-A and BAMM. The 3rd Meeting of the BAMM, preceded by the 3rd BIMSTEC SOM-A, held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 08-09 April 2025, adopted the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Fisheries and Livestock Cooperation. 

05.    The Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock was constituted in 2022. As the Lead Country for the fisheries and livestock sector, Myanmar virtually hosted the 1st Meeting of EGFL in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on 12 March 2024. The 1st Meeting of EGFL finalized the Terms of Reference of EGFL and BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Fisheries and Livestock Cooperation. The 2nd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock, held virtually on 08-09 December 2025, in Kathmandu, Nepal, discussed implementation of the Plan of Action and other key initiatives for development of fisheries and livestock, including establishment of BIMSTEC Center of Excellence in Livestock in Bangladesh; creation of a network of fisheries and livestock research and development institutions; exchange programmes among fisheries and livestock departments and research institutes; and forging partnership with relevant International Organizations.

BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Fisheries and Livestock Cooperation

06.    The 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministers Meeting adopted the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Fisheries and Livestock Cooperation and encouraged the member States to implement it earnestly. The Plan of Action is a living document and outlines a comprehensive framework to revitalize the fisheries and livestock sector in the BIMSTEC region. The Plan of Action identifies 23 actions focusing on four areas of cooperation – (i) Technical Cooperation on Fisheries and Livestock, (ii) Fisheries and Livestock Trade and Investment, (iii) Fisheries and Livestock Research and Development, and (iv) Food Security. 

07.    An Activity Matrix for implementation of the Plan of Action has also been developed to specify projects and activities to implement actions outlined in the Plan of Action. Bangladesh has taken initiative to establish BIMSTEC Center of Excellence in Livestock at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute in Savar, Dhaka, as part of the implementation of the Plan of Action. Further, member States have proposed to conduct Workshops, training and capacity building programme to strengthen cooperation in fisheries and livestock sector among member States. 

Activities implemented in the Fisheries Sector

08.    Since inclusion of fisheries as a sector of cooperation, the following regional activities have been implemented to enhance capacity building, facilitate the exchange of expertise and promote the dissemination of good practices in the fisheries and aquaculture sector: